M 


R.  MARSH 


HISTORY 


OF 

HERNANDO  CORTEZ. 


BY  JOHN  S.  C.  ABBOTT. 


Hngrabfnjj*. 


NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON  : 

HARPER  & BROTHERS,  PUBLISHERS, 

1899. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  fifty -six,  by 

Harper  & Brothers 

in  the  Clerk’s  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District 
of  New  York. 


Copyright,  1884,  by  Susan  Abbot  Mead. 


PREFACE, 


The  career  of  Hernando  Cortez  is  one  of  the 
most  wild  and  adventurous  recorded  in  the  an- 
nals of  fact  or  fiction,  and  yet  all  the  prom- 
inent events  in  his  wondrous  history  are  well 
authenticated.  All  truth  carries  with  itself  an 
important  moral.  The  writer,  in  this  narrative, 
has  simply  attempted  to  give  a vivid  idea  of 
the  adventures  of  Cortez  and  his  companions  in 
the  Conquest  of  Mexico.  There  are  many  in- 
ferences of  vast  moment  to  which  the  recital 
leads.  These  are  so  obvious  that  they  need 
not  be  pointed  out  by  the  writer. 

A small  portion  of  this  volume  has  appeared 
in  Harper’s  Magazine,  in  an  article  furnished  by 
the  writer  upon  the  Conquest  of  Mexico. 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter  Pag* 

I.  the  DISCOVERY  OF  MEXICO 13 

II.  EARLY  LIFE  OF  CORTEZ 28 

III.  THE  VOYAGE  TO  MEXICO 57 

IV.  FOUNDING  A COLONY 84 

V.  THE  TLASC ALANS  SUBJUGATED 117 

VI.  THE  MARCH  TO  MEXICO 150 

VII.  THE  METROPOLIS  INVADED 184 

VIII.  BATTLE  OF  THE  DISMAL  NIGHT 214 

IX.  THE  CAPITAL  BESIEGED  AND  CAPTURED 246 

X.  THE  CONQUEST  CONSUMMATED 281 

XI.  THE  EXPEDITION  TO  HONDURAS 305 

XII.  THE  LAST  DAYS  OF  CORTEZ 330 


ENGRAVINGS. 


hjge 

AMERICA  DISCOVERED.. 16 

CORTEZ  TAKING  LEAVE  OF  THE  GOVERNOR 47 

CUBA 52 

THE  FIRST  MASS  IN  THE  TEMPLES  OF  YUCATAN 61 

FIRST  CAVALRY  CHARGE  HEADED  BY  CORTEZ 73 

INTERVIEW  BETWEEN  CORTEZ  AND  THE  EMBASSA- 
DORS OF  MONTEZUMA 94 

ROUTE  OF  CORTEZ 105 

DESTROYING  THE  IDOLS  AT  ZEMPOALLA 120 

MASSACRE  IN  CHOLULA 161 

FIRST  VIEW  OF  THE  MEXICAN  CAPITAL 168 

THE  MEETING  OF  CORTEZ  AND  MONTEZUMA 177 

THE  CITY  OF  MEXICO 190 

THE  FALL  OF  MONTEZUMA 222 

THE  BATTLE  UPON  THE  CAUSEWAY 232 

THE  CAPTURE  OF  GUATEMOZIN 260 


HERNANDO  CORTEZ. 


Chapter  I. 

The  Discovery  of  Mexico. 


The  shore  of  America  in  1492. 


HREE  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  the 


ocean  which  washes  the  shores  of  America 
was  one  vast  and  silent  solitude.  No  ship 
plowed  its  waves  ; no  sail  whitened  its  surface. 
On  the  11th  of  October,  1492,  three  small  ves- 
sels might  have  been  seen  invading,  for  the  first 
time,  these  hitherto  unknown  waters.  They 
were  as  specks  on  the  bosom  of  infinity.  The 
sky  above,  the  ocean  beneath,  gave  no  promise 
of  any  land.  Three  hundred  adventurers  were 
in  these  ships.  Ten  weeks  had  already  passed 
since  they  saw  the  hills  of  the  Old  World  sink 
beneath  the  horizon. 

For  weary  days  and  weeks  they  had  strained 
their  eyes  looking  toward  the  west,  hoping  to 
see  the  mountains  of  the  New  World  rising  in 
the  distance.  The  illustrious  adventurer,  Chris- 
topher Columbus,  who  guided  these  frail  barks. 


14 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Doubt  and  alarm.  A light  appears. 

inspired  by  science  and  by  faith,  doubted  not 
that  a world  would  ere  long  emerge  before  him 
from  the  apparently  boundless  waters.  But 
the  blue  sky  still  overarched  them,  and  the 
heaving  ocean  still  extended  in  all  directions 
its  unbroken  and  interminable  expanse. 

Discouragement  and  alarm  now  pervaded 
nearly  all  hearts,  and  there  was  a general  clam- 
or for  return  to  the  shores  of  Europe.  Chris- 
topher Columbus,  sublime  in  the  confidence 
with  which  his  exalted  nature  inspired  him,  was 
still  firm  and  undaunted  in  his  purpose. 

The  night  of  the  11th  of  October  darkened 
over  these  lonely  adventurers.  The  stars  came 
out  in  all  the  brilliance  of  tropical  splendor.  A 
fresh  breeze  drove  the  ships  with  increasing 
speed  over  the  billows,  and  cooled,  as  with 
balmy  zephyrs,  brows  heated  through  the  day 
by  the  blaze  of  a meridian  sun.  Columbus 
could  not  sleep.  He  stood  upon  the  deck  of 
his  ship,  silent  and  sad,  yet  indomitable  in  en- 
ergy,  gazing  with  intense  and  unintermitted 
watch  into  the  dusky  distance.  It  was  near 
midnight.  Suddenly  he  saw  a light,  as  of  a 
torch,  far  off  in  the  horizon.  His  heart  throb- 
bed with  an  irrepressible  tumult  of  excitement. 
Was  it  a meteor,  or  was  it  a light  from  the  long- 


AMERICA  DISCOVERED 


The  Discovery  of  Mexico.  17 


He  watches  the  light.  The  shore  is  6een. 

wished-for  land  ? It  disappeared,  and  all  again 
was  dark.  But  suddenly  again  it  gleamed  forth, 
feeble  and  dim  in  the  distance,  yet  distinct. 
Soon  again  the  exciting  ray  was  quenched,  and 
nothing  disturbed  the  dark  and  sombre  outline 
of  the  sea.  The  long  hours  of  the  night  to 
Columbus  seemed  interminable  as  he  waited 
impatiently  for  the  dawn.  But  even  before  any 
light  was  seen  in  the  east,  the  dim  outline  of 
land  appeared  in  indisputable  distinctness  be- 
fore the  eyes  of  the  entranced,  the  now  immor- 
talized navigator.  A cannon — the  signal  of  the 
discovery — rolled  its  peal  over  the  ocean,  an- 
nouncing to  the  two  vessels  in  the  rear  the  joy- 
ful tidings.  A shout,  excited  by  the  heart’s  in- 
tensest  emotions,  rose  over  the  waves,  and  with 
tears,  with  prayers,  and  embraces,  these  enthu- 
siastic men  accepted  the  discovery  of  the  New 
World. 

The  bright  autumnal  morning  dawned  in  rich- 
est glory,  presenting  to  them  a scene  as  of  a ce- 
lestial paradise.  The  luxuriance  of  tropical 
vegetation  bloomed  in  all  its  novelty  around 
them.  The  inhabitants,  many  of  them  in  the 
simple  and  innocent  costume  of  Eden  before  the 
fall,  crowded  the  shore,  gazing  with  attitude  and 
gesture  of  astonishment  upon  the  strange  phe- 
B 


18 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  Spaniards  land  and  are  hospitably  received. 

nomena  of  the  ships.  The  adventurers  landed, 
and  were  received  upon  the  island  of  San  Salva- 
dor as  angels  from  heaven  by  the  peaceful  and 
friendly  natives.  Bitterly  has  the  hospitality 
been  requited.  After  cruising  around  for  some 
time  among  the  beautiful  islands  of  the  New 
World,  Columbus  returned  to  Spain  to  aston- 
ish Europe  with  the  tidings  of  his  discovery. 
He  had  been  absent  but  seven  months. 

A quarter  of  a century  passed  away,  during 
which  all  the  adventurers  of  Europe  were  busy 
exploring  these  newly-discovered  islands  and 
continents.  Various  colonies  were  established 
in  the  fertile  valleys  of  these  sunny  climes,  and 
upon  the  hill-sides  which  emerged,  in  the  ut- 
most magnificence  of  vegetation,  from  the  bosom 
of  the  Caribbean  Sea.  The  eastern  coast  of 
North  America  had  been  during  this  time  sur- 
veyed from  Labrador  to  Florida.  The  bark  of 
the  navigator  had  discovered  nearly  all  the  isl- 
ands of  the  West  Indies,  and  had  crept  along 
the  winding  shores  of  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  and 
of  the  South  American  continent  as  far  as  the 
River  La  Plata.  Bold  explorers,  guided  by  in- 
telligence received  from  the  Indians,  had  even 
penetrated  the  interior  of  the  isthmus,  and  from 
the  summit  of  the  central  mountain  barrier  had 


The  Discovery  of  Mexico.  19 


Mexico  is  discovered.  Arts  and  sciences  of  the  Mexicans. 

gazed  with  delight  upon  the  placid  waves  of  the 
Pacific.  But  the  vast  indentation  of  the  Mex- 
ican Gulf,  sweeping  far  away  in  an  apparently 
interminable  circuit  to  the  west,  had  not  yet 
been  penetrated.  The  field  for  romantic  adven- 
ture which  these  unexplored  realms  presented 
could  not,  however,  long  escape  the  eye  of  that 
chivalrous  age. 

Some  exploring  expeditions  were  soon  fitted 
out  from  Cuba,  and  the  shores  of  Mexico  were 
discovered.  Here  every  thing  exhibited  the 
traces  of  a far  higher  civilization  than  had  hith- 
erto been  witnessed  in  the  New  World.  There 
were  villages,  and  even  large  cities,  thickly 
planted  throughout  the  country.  Temples  and 
other  buildings,  imposing  in  massive  architec- 
ture, were  reared  of  stone  and  lime.  Armies, 
laws,  and  a symbolical  form  of  writing  indicated 
a very  considerable  advance  in  the  arts  and  the 
energies  of  civilization.  Many  of  the  arts  were 
cultivated.  Cloth  was  made  of  cotton,  and  of 
skins  nicely  prepared.  Astronomy  was  suffi- 
ciently understood  for  the  accurate  measure- 
ment of  time  in  the  divisions  of  the  solar  year. 
It  is  indeed  a wonder,  as  yet  unexplained, 
where  these  children  of  the  New  World  ac- 
quired so  philosophical  an  acquaintance  with 


20 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  mines  of  precious  metals.  Code  oflaws. 

the  movements  of  the  heavenly  bodies.  Agri- 
culture was  practiced  with  much  scientific  skill, 
and  a system  of  irrigation  introduced,  from 
which  many  a New  England  farmer  might  learn 
many  a profitable  lesson.  Mines  of  gold,  sil- 
ver, lead,  and  copper  were  worked.  Many  ar- 
ticles of  utility  and  of  exquisite  beauty  were 
fabricated  from  these  metals.  Iron,  the  ore  of 
which  must  pass  through  so  many  processes 
before  it  is  prepared  for  use,  was  unknown  to 
them.  The  Spanish  goldsmiths,  admiring  the 
exquisite  workmanship  of  the  gold  and  silver 
ornaments  of  the  Mexicans,  bowed  to  their  su- 
periority. 

Fairs  were  held  in  the  great  market-places 
of  the  principal  cities  every  fifth  day,  where 
buyers  and  sellers  in  vast  numbers  thronged. 
They  had  public  schools,  courts  of  justice,  a 
class  of  nobles,  and  a powerful  monarch.  The 
territory  embraced  by  this  wonderful  kingdom 
was  twice  as  large  as  the  whole  of  New  En- 
gland. 

The  code  of  laws  adopted  by  this  strange 
people  was  very  severe.  They  seemed  to  cher- 
ish but  little  regard  for  human  life,  and  the  al- 
most universal  punishment  for  crime  was  death. 
This  bloody  code  secured  a very  effective  po- 


The  Discovery  of  Mexico.  21 


Punishments.  Slavery.  Military  glory. 

lice.  Adultery,  thieving,  removing  landmarks, 
altering  measures,  defrauding  a ward  of  prop- 
erty, intemperance,  and  even  idleness,  with 
spendthrift  habits,  were  punished  pitilessly  with 
death.  The  public  mind  was  so  accustomed  to 
this,  that  death  lost  a portion  of  its  solemnity. 
The  rites  of  marriage  were  very  formally  enact- 
ed, and  very  rigidly  adhered  to. 

Prisoners  taken  in  war  were  invariably  slain 
upon  their  religious  altars  in  sacrifice  to  their 
gods.  Slavery  existed  among  them,  but  not 
hereditary.  No  one  could  be  born  a slave. 
The  poor  sometimes  sold  their  children.  The 
system  existed  in  its  mildest  possible  form,  as 
there  was  no  distinction  of  race  between  the 
master  and  the  slave. 

Military  glory  was  held  in  high  repute.  Fa- 
naticism lent  all  its  allurements  to  inspire  the 
soldier.  Large  armies  were  trained  to  very 
considerable  military  discipline.  Death  upon 
the  battle-field  was  a sure  passport  to  the  most 
sunny  and  brilliant  realms  of  the  heavenly 
world.  The  soldiers  wore  coats  of  mail  of  wad- 
ded cotton,  which  neither  arrow  nor  javelin  could 
easily  penetrate.  The  chiefs  wore  over  these 
burnished  plates  of  silver  and  of  gold.  Silver 
helmets,  also,  often  glittered  upon  the  head. 


22 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Mexican  mythology.  The  three  states  of  existence. 

Hospitals  were  established  for  the  sick  and  the 
wounded. 

Their  religious  system  was  an  incongruous 
compound  of  beauty  and  of  deformity — of  gen- 
tleness and  of  ferocity.  They  believed  in  one 
supreme  God,  the  Great  Spirit,  with  several 
hundred  inferior  deities.  The  god  of  war  was 
a very  demon.  The  god  of  the  air  was  a re- 
lined deity,  whose  altars  were  embellished  with 
fruits  and  flowers,  and  upon  whose  ear  the  warb- 
ling of  birds  and  the  most  plaintive  strains  of 
vocal  melody  vibrated  sweetly. 

. There  were,  in  their  imaginations,  three  states 
of  existence  in  the  future  world.  The  good, 
and  especially  those,  of  whatever  character,  who 
fell  upon  the  field  of  battle,  soared  to  the  sun, 
and  floated  in  aerial  grace  and  beauty  among 
the  clouds,  in  peace  and  joy,  never  to  be  dis- 
turbed. The  worthless,  indifferent  sort  of  peo- 
ple, neither  good  nor  bad,  found  perhaps  a con- 
genial home  in  the  monotony  of  a listless  and 
almost  lifeless  immortality,  devoid  of  joy  or 
grief.  The  wicked  were  imprisoned  in  ever- 
lasting darkness,  where  they  could  do  no  far- 
ther harm. 

It  is  an  extraordinary  fact  that  the  rite  of  in- 
fant baptism  existed  among  them.  This  fact 


The  Discovery  of  Mexico.  23 


Infant  baptism.  Worship.  The  temples  and  altars. 

is  attested  by  the  Spanish  historians,  who  wit- 
nessed it  with  their  own  eyes,  and  who  have  re- 
corded the  truly  Christian  prayers  offered  on 
the  occasion.  As  the  infants  were  sprinkled  with 
water,  God  was  implored  to  wash  them  from 
original  sin,  and  to  create  them  anew.  Many 
of  their  prayers  dimly  reflected  those  pure  and 
ennobling  sentiments  which  shine  so  brilliant- 
ly in  the  word  of  God. 

Their  worship  must  have  been  a costly  one, 
as  the  most  majestic  temples  were  reared,  and 
an  army  of  priests  was  supported.  One  single 
temple  in  the  metropolis  had  five  thousand 
priests  attached  to  its  service.  The  whole 
business  of  youthful  instruction  was  confided 
to  the  priests.  They  received  confession,  and 
possessed  the  power  of  absolution. 

The  temples  were  generally  pyramidal  struc- 
tures of  enormous  magnitude.  Upon  the  broad 
area  of  their  summits  an  altar  was  erected, 
where  human  victims,  usually  prisoners  taken 
in  war,  were  offered  in  sacrifice.  These  awful 
ceremonies  were  conducted  with  the  most  im- 
posing pomp  of  music,  banners,  and  military 
and  ecclesiastical  processions.  The  victim  of- 
fered in  sacrifice  was  bound  immovably  to  the 
stone  altar.  The  officiating  priest,  with  a sharp 


24 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Mode  of  offering  sacrifice.  City  of  Mexico. 

instrument  constructed  of  flint-like  lava,  cut 
open  his  breast,  and  tore  out  the  warm  and  pal- 
pitating heart.  This  bloody  sacrifice  was  pre- 
sented in  devout  offering  to  the  god.  At  times, 
in  the  case  of  prisoners  taken  in  war,  the  most 
horrid  tortures  were  practiced  before  the  bloody 
rite  was  terminated.  When  the  gods  seemed 
to  frown,  in  dearth,  or  pestilence,  or  famine, 
large  numbers  of  children  were  frequently  of- 
fered in  sacrifice.  Thus  the  temples  of  Mexico 
were  ever  clotted  with  blood.  Still  more  re- 
volting is  the  well-authenticated  fact  that  the 
body  of  the  wretched  victim  thus  sacrificed  was 
often  served  up  as  a banquet,  and  was  eaten 
with  every  accompaniment  of  festive  rejoicing. 
It  is  estimated  that  from  thirty  to  fifty  thousand 
thus  perished  every  year  upon  the  altars  of  an- 
cient Mexico.  One  of  the  great  objects  of  their 
wars  was  to  obtain  victims  for  their  gods. 

The  population  of  this  vast  empire  is  not 
known.  It  must  have  consisted,  however,  of 
several  millions.  The  city  of  Mexico,  situated 
on  islands  in  the  bosom  of  a lake  in  the  centre 
of  a spacious  and  magnificent  valley  of  the  in- 
terior, about  two  hundred  miles  from  the  coast, 
was  the  metropolis  of  the  realm. 

Montezuma  was  king — an  aristocratic  king, 


The  Discovery  of  Mexico.  25 


Montezuma.  Civilization  of  the  inhabitants. 

surrounded  by  nobles,  upon  whom  he  conferred 
all  the  honors  and  emoluments  of  the  state. 
His  palace  was  very  magnificent.  He  was 
served  from  plates  and  goblets  of  silver  and 
gold.  Six  hundred  feudatory  nobles  composed 
his  daily  retinue,  paying  him  the  most  obsequi- 
ous homage,  and  expecting  the  same  from  those 
beneath  themselves.  Montezuma  claimed  to  be 
lord  of  the  whole  world,  and  exacted  tribute 
from  all  whom  his  arm  could  reach.  His  tri- 
umphant legions  had  invaded  and  subjugated 
many  adjacent  states,  as  this  Homan  empire 
of  the  New  World  extended  in  all  directions  its 
powerful  sway. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  kingdom  of 
Mexico,  in  point  of  civilization,  was  about  on 
an  equality  with  the  Chinese  empire  of  the  pres- 
ent day.  Its  inhabitants  were  very  decidedly 
elevated  above  the  wandering  hordes  of  North 
America. 

Montezuma  had  heard  of  the  arrival,  in  the 
islands  of  the  Caribbean  Sea,  of  the  strangers 
from  another  hemisphere.  He  had  heard  of 
their  appalling  power,  their  aggressions,  and 
their  pitiless  cruelty.  Wisely  he  resolved  to 
exclude  these  dangerous  visitors  from  his  shores. 
As  exploring  expeditions  entered  his  bays  and 


26 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  Governor  of  Cuba  resolves  to  subjugate  the  country. 

rivers,  they  were  fiercely  attacked  and  driven 
away.  These  expeditions,  however,  brought 
back  to  Cuba  most  alluring  accounts  of  the 
rich  empire  of  Mexico  and  of  its  golden  opu- 
lence. 

The  Governor  of  Cuba  now  resolved  to  fit 
out  an  expedition  sufficiently  powerful  to  sub- 
jugate their  country,  and  make  it  one  of  the  vas- 
sals of  Spain.  It  was  a dark  period  of  the 
world.  Human  rights  were  but  feebly  discern- 
ed. Superstition  reigned  over  hearts  and  con- 
sciences with  a fearfully  despotic  sway.  Acts, 
upon  which  would  now  fall  the  reproach  of  un- 
mitigated villainy,  were  then  performed  with 
prayers  and  thanksgivings  honestly  offered. 
We  shall  but  tell  the  impartial  story  of  the 
wondrous  career  of  Cortez  in  the  subjugation 
of  this  empire.  God,  the  searcher  of  all  hearts, 
can  alone  unravel  the  mazes  of  conscientious- 
ness and  depravity,  and  award  the  just  meed 
of  approval  and  condemnation. 

Many  good  motives  were  certainly  united 
with  those  more  questionable  which  inspired 
this  enterprise.  It  was  a matter  of  national  am- 
bition to  promote  geographical  discoveries,  to 
enlarge  the  realms  of  commerce,  and  to  extend 
the  boundaries  of  human  knowledge  by  inves- 


The  Discovery  of  Mexico.  27 


Motives  for  carrying  on  conquests.  Hernando  Cortez. 

tigating  the  arts  and  the  sciences  of  other  na- 
tions.  The  Christian  religion — Heaven’s  great- 
est boon  to  man — was  destined,  by  the  clear  an- 
nouncements of  prophecy,  to  fill  the  world  ; 
and  it  was  deemed  the  duty  of  the  Church  to 
extend  these  triumphs  in  all  possible  ways. 
The  importance  of  the  end  to  be  attained,  it  was 
thought,  would  sanctify  even  the  instrumental- 
ity of  violence  and  blood.  W ealtli  and  honors 
were  among  the  earthly  rewards  promised  to 
the  faithful. 

Allowances  must  be  made  for  the  darkness 
of  the  age.  It  is  by  very  slow  and  painful  steps 
that  the  human  mind  has  attained  to  even  its 
present  unsteady  position  in  regard  to  civil  and 
religious  rights. 

The  Governor  of  Cuba,  Velasquez,  looked 
earnestly  for  a man  to  head  this  important  en- 
terprise. He  found  just  the  man  for  the  occa- 
sion in  Hernando  Cortez — a fearless,  energetic 
Spanish  adventurer,  then  residing  upon  the  isl- 
and of  Cuba.  His  early  life  will  be  found  in 
the  next  chapter. 


28 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Village  of  Medellin. 


Early  character  of  Cortex. 


Chapter  II. 

Early  Life  of  Cortez. 

IN  the  interior  of  Spain,  in  the  midst  of  the 
sombre  mountains  whose  confluent  streams 
compose  the  waters  of  the  Guadiana,  there  re- 
poses the  little  village  or  hamlet  of  Medellin. 
A more  secluded  spot  it  would  be  difficult  to 
find.  Three  hundred  and  seventy  years  ago, 
in  the  year  1485,  Hernando  Cortez  was  born  in 
this  place.  His  ancestors  had  enjoyed  wealth 
and  rank.  The  family  was  now  poor,  but  proud 
of  the  Castilian  blood  which  flowed  in  their 
veins.  The  father  of  Hernando  was  a captain 
in  the  army — a man  of  honorable  character. 
Of  his  mother  but  little  is  known. 

Not  much  has  been  transmitted  to  our  day 
respecting  the  childhood  of  this  extraordinary 
man.  It  is  reported  that  he  early  developed  a 
passion  for  wild  adventure ; that  he  was  idle 
and  wayward  ; frank,  fearless,  and  generous  ; 
that  he  loved  to  explore  the  streams  and  to 
climb  the  cliffs  of  his  mountainous  home,  and 
that  he  ever  appeared  reckless  of  danger.  He 


Early  Life  of  Cortez. 


29 


Hernando  sent  to  Salamanca.  Life  at  the  university. 

was  popular  with  his  companions,  for  warm- 
heartedness and  magnanimity  were  prominent 
in  his  character. 

His  father,  though  struggling  with  poverty, 
cherished  ambitious  views  for  his  son,  and  sent 
him  to  the  celebrated  university  of  Salamanca 
for  an  education.  He  wished  Hernando  to 
avoid  the  perils  and  temptations  of  the  camp, 
and  to  enter  the  honorable  profession  of  the  law. 
Hernando  reluctantly  obeyed  the  wishes  of  his 
father,  and  went  to  the  university.  But  he 
scorned  restraint.  He  despised  all  the  employ- 
ments of  industry,  and  study  was  his  especial 
abhorrence.  Two  years  were  worse  than  wasted 
in  the  university.  Young  Cortez  was  both  in- 
dolent and  dissipated.  In  ail  the  feats  of  mis- 
chief he  was  the  ringleader,  and  his  books  were 
entirely  neglected.  He  received  many  cen- 
sures, and  was  on  the  point  of  being  expelled, 
when  his  disappointed  father  withdrew  the  way- 
ward boy  from  the  halls  of  the  university,  and 
took  him  home. 

Hernando  was  now  sixteen  years  of  age. 
There  was  nothing  for  him  to  do  in  the  seclu- 
sion of  his  native  village  but  to  indulge  in  idle- 
ness. This  he  did  with  great  diligence.  He 
rode  horses ; he  hunted  and  fished ; he  learned 


30 


Hernando  Cortez. 


He  turns  soldier.  Expedition  to  Hispaniola. 

the  art  of  the  swordsman  and  played  the  sol- 
dier. Hot  blood  glowed  in  his  veins,  and  he 
became  genteelly  dissolute  ; his  pride  would 
never  allow  him  to  stoop  to  vulgarity.  The 
father  was  grief-stricken  by  the  misconduct  of 
his  son,  and  at  last  consented  to  gratify  the 
passion  which  inspired  him  to  become  a soldier. 

At  seventeen  years  of  age  the  martial  boy 
enlisted  in  an  expedition,  under  Gonsalvo  de 
Cordova,  to  assist  the  Italians  against  the 
French.  Young  Cortez,  to  his  bitter  disap- 
pointment, just  as  the  expedition  started,  was 
taken  seriously  sick,  and  was  obliged  to  be  left 
behind.  Soon  after  this,  one  of  his  relatives 
was  appointed,  by  the  Spanish  crown,  governor 
of  St.  Domingo,  now  called  Hayti,  but  then 
called  Hispaniola,  or  Little  Spain.  This  open- 
ing to  scenes  and  adventures  in  the  New  World 
was  attractive  to  the  young  cavalier  in  the  high- 
est possible  degree.  It  was,  indeed,  an  enter- 
prise which  might  worthily  arouse  the  enthusi- 
asm of  any  mind.  A large  fleet  was  equipped 
to  convey  nearly  three  thousand  settlers  to 
found  a colony  beneath  the  sunny  skies  and 
under  the  orange  groves  of  the  tropics.  Life 
there  seemed  the  elysium  of  the  indolent  man. 
Young  Cortez  now  rejoiced  heartily  over  his 


Early  Life  of  Cortez. 


31 


His  early  love,  and  unfortunate  consequences  attending  it. 

previous  disappointment.  His  whole  soul  was 
engrossed  in  the  contemplation  of  the  wild  and 
romantic  adventures  in  which  he  expected  to 
luxuriate.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  a lad 
of  such  a temperament  should,  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  be  a stranger  to  the  passion  of  love. 
There  was  a young  lady  in  his  native  village 
for  whom  he  had  formed  a strong  youthful  at- 
tachment. He  resolved,  with  his  accustomed 
ardor  and  recklessness,  to  secure  an  interview 
with  his  lady-love,  where  parting  words  and 
pledges  should  not  be  witnessed  by  prudent 
relatives. 

One  dark  night,  just  before  the  squadron 
sailed,  the  ardent  lover  climbed  a mouldering 
wall  to  reach  the  window  of  the  young  lady's 
chamber.  In  the  obscurity  he  slipped  and  fell, 
and  some  heavy  stones  from  the  crumbling  wall 
fell  upon  him.  He  was  conveyed  to  his  bed, 
severely  wounded  and  helpless.  The  fleet  sail- 
ed, and  the  young  man,  almost  insane  with  dis- 
appointment and  chagrin,  was  left  upon  his  bed 
of  pain. 

At  length  he  recovered.  His  father  secured 
for  him  a passage  to  join  the  colonists  in  an- 
other ship.  He,  with  exultation,  left  Medellin, 
hastened  to  the  sea-shore,  where  he  embarked. 


32 


Hernando  Cortez. 


He  arrives  at  Hispaniola.  Patronage  of  the  governor. 

and  after  an  unusually  adventurous  and  peril- 
ous voyage,  he  gazed  with  delight  upon  the  trop- 
ical vegetation  and  the  new  scenes  of  life  of 
Hispaniola.  It  was  the  year  1504.  Cortez 
was  then  nineteen  years  of  age. 

The  young  adventurer,  immediately  upon 
landing,  proceeded  to  the  house  of  his  relative, 
Governor  Ovando.  The  governor  happened  to 
be  absent,  but  his  secretary  received  the  young 
man  very  cordially. 

“I  have  no  doubt,”  said  he  to  Hernando, 
“ that  you  will  receive  a liberal  grant  of  land 
to  cultivate.” 

“ I come  to  get  gold,”  Hernando  replied, 
haughtily,  “ not  to  till  the  soil  like  a peasant.” 

Ovando,  on  his  return,  took  his  young  rela- 
tive under  his  patronage,  and  assigned  to  him 
posts  of  profit  and  honor.  Still  Cortez  was 
very  restless.  His  impatient  spirit  wearied  of 
the  routine  of  daily  duty,  and  his  imagination 
was  ever  busy  in  the  domain  of  wild  adventure. 

Two  Spaniards  upon  the  island  of  Hispaniola 
about  this  time  planned  an  expedition  for  ex- 
ploring the  main  land,  to  make  discoveries  and 
to  select  spots  for  future  settlements.  Cortez 
eagerly  joined  the  enterprise,  but  again  was  he 
doomed  to  disappointment.  Just  before  the  ves- 


I 


Early  Life  of  Cortez.  33 

Life  at  Hispaniola.  Cortez’s  courage. 

sels  sailed  he  was  seized  by  a fever,  and  laid 
prostrate  upon  his  bed.  Probably  his  life  was 
thus  saved.  Nearly  all  who  embarked  on  this 
enterprise  perished  by  storm,  disease,  and  the 
poisoned  arrows  of  the  natives. 

Seven  years  passed  away,  during  which  Cor- 
tez led  an  idle  and  voluptuous  life,  ever  ready 
for  any  daring  adventure  which  might  offer, 
and  miserably  attempting  to  beguile  the  weari- 
ness of  provincial  life  with  guilty  amours.  He 
accepted  a plantation  from  the  governor,  which 
was  cultivated  by  slaves.  His  purse  was  thus 
ever  well  filled.  Not  unffequently  he  became 
involved  in  duels,  and  he  bore  upon  his  body 
until  death  many  scars  received  in  these  en- 
counters. Military  expeditions  were  not  un- 
frequently  sent  out  to  quell  the  insurrections  to 
which  the  natives  of  the  island  were  goaded  by 
the  injustice  and  the  cruelty  of  the  Spaniards. 

Cortez  was  always  an  eager  volunteer  for 
such  service.  His  courage  and  imperturbable 
self-possession  made  him  an  invaluable  co-op- 
erator in  every  enterprise  of  danger.  He  thus 
became  acquainted  with  all  the  artifices  of  In- 
dian warfare,  and  inured  himself  to  the  toil  and 
privations  of  forest  life. 

In  the  year  1492  the  magnificent  island  of 
C 


34 


Hernando  Cortez. 

The  island  of  Cuba.  The  new  governor 

Cuba,  but  a few  leagues  from  Hispaniola,  had 
been  discovered  by  Columbus.  As  he  approach- 
ed the  land,  the  grandeur  of  the  mountains,  the 
wide  sweep  of  the  valleys,  the  stately  forests, 
the  noble  rivers,  the  bold  promontories  and  head- 
lands, melting  away  in  the  blue  of  the  hazy  dis- 
tance, impressed  him  with  unbounded  admira- 
tion. As  he  sailed  up  one  of  the  beautiful  riv- 
ers of  crystal  clearness,  fringed  with  flowers,  and 
aromatic  shrubs,  and  tropical  fruits,  while  the 
overhanging  trees  were  vocal  with  the  melody 
of  birds  of  every  variety  of  song  and  plumage, 
enraptured  he  exclaimed, 

“ Cuba ! It  is  the  most  beautiful  island  that 
eyes  ever  beheld.  It  is  an  elysium.  One 
could  live  there  forever.” 

The  natives  of  the  favored  land  were  amiable 
and  friendly.  The  Spaniards  did  not  for  sev- 
eral years  encroach  upon  their  rights,  and  no 
Spanish  colony  was  established  upon  their  en- 
chanting shores.  It  was  now  the  year  1511. 
Nineteen  years  had  elapsed  since  the  discovery 
of  the  island.  Ovando  had  been  recalled,  and 
Diego  Columbus,  the  son  of  Christopher,  had 
been  appointed,  in  his  stead,  governor  of  His- 
paniola. He  took  the  title  of  Viceroy,  and  as- 
sumed all  the  splendors  of  royalty.  Diego  Co- 


Early  Life  of  Cortez. 


35 


The  filibustering  expedition.  Resistance. 

lumbus  devoutly  decided  that  it  was  manifest 
destiny  that  Cuba  should  belong  to  Spain.  He 
organized  a filibustering  expedition  to  wrest 
from  the  natives  their  beautiful  island.  The 
command  of  the  expedition  was  intrusted  to 
Don  Velasquez,  a bold  adventurer,  of  much  no- 
toriety, from  Spain,  who  had  been  residing  for 
many  years  at  Hispaniola,  and  who  had  been 
lieutenant  under  Governor  Ovando.  A foray  of 
this  kind  would,  of  course,  excite  the  patriotic 
zeal  of  every  vagabond.  Cortez  was  one  of  the 
first  to  hasten  to  the  standard  of  Velasquez. 
The  natives  of  the  island,  unarmed  and  volup- 
tuous, made  hardly  the  shadow  of  resistance, 
and  three  hundred  Spanish  adventurers,  with 
but  a slight  struggle,  took  possession  of  this 
magnificent  domain.  The  reputation  and  abil- 
ity of  Cortez  gave  him  a prominent  position  in 
this  adventure. 

One  brave  and  patriotic  Indian  chief,  who  had 
fled  from  the  outrages  perpetrated  at  Hispanio- 
la, urged  the  Cubans  to  repel  the  invaders. 
Though  unable  to  rouse  in  a mass  the  peace- 
loving  islanders,  he  gathered  a small  band  around 
him,  and  valiantly  contended  to  resist  the  land- 
ing. His  efforts  were  quite  unavailing.  Gun- 
powder soon  triumphed.  The  Indians  were 


36 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Hatuey  condemned  to  death.  His  conversation. 

speedily  put  to  flight,  and  the  chieftain  Hatuey 
was  taken  prisoner. 

Velasquez  ignobly  and  cruelly  condemned 
the  heroic  patriot  to  be  burned  alive  ; but  relig- 
iously the  fanatic  invader  wished,  though  he 
burned  the  body,  to  save  the  soul.  A priest 
was  appointed  to  labor  for  the  conversion  of  the 
victim. 

“ If  you  will  embrace  our  religion,”  said  the 
priest,  “ as  soon  as  the  fire  has  consumed  your 
body,  you  will  enter  heaven,  and  be  happy  there 
forever.” 

“Are  there  Spaniards,”  inquired  Hatuey,  “in 
that  happy  place  of  which  you  speak  ?” 

“ Yes,”  replied  the  priest ; “ such  as  are  holy.” 

“ Then  I will  not  go  there ! ” Hatuey  energet- 
ically rejoined.  “I  will  never  go  to  a place 
where  I shall  meet  one  of  that  cruel  people.” 

The  poor  Indian  was  burned  to  ashes.  The 
natives  gazed  upon  the  spectacle  with  horror. 
They  were  appalled,  and  ventured  to  make  no 
farther  resistance  to  their  terrible  conquerors. 

Such  is  Spain’s  title-deed  to  the  island  of 
Cuba.  God  has  not  smiled  upon  regions  thus 
infamously  won.  May  the  United  States  take 
warning  that  all  her  possessions  may  be  honor- 
ably acquired.  “ God  helps,”  says  blind  unbe- 


Early  Life  of  Cortez. 


37 


The  colony.  The  conspiracy.  Cortez  imprisoned 

lief,  “ the  heavy  battalions  but  experience  has 
fully  proved  that  “ the  race  is  not  always  to  the 
swift,  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong.” 

One  or  two  colonies  were  soon  established 
upon  the  conquered  island.  They  grew  very 
rapidly.  Velasquez  was  appointed  governor ; 
Cortez  was  his  secretary. 

Many  families  were  enticed  from  Spain  by 
the  charms  of  this  most  beautiful  of  the  isles 
of  the  ocean.  A gentleman  came  from  old  Cas- 
tile with  four  beautiful  daughters.  Velasquez 
became  attached  to  one ; Cortez  trifled  grievous  - 
ly  with  the  affections  of  another.  The  govern- 
or reproached  him  for  his  infamous  conduct. 
The  proud  spirit  of  Cortez  could  not  brook  re- 
proof, and  he  entered  into  a conspiracy  to  prof- 
fer complaints  against  the  governor,  and  to  se- 
cure his  removal.  It  was  a bold  and  a perilous 
undertaking. 

Cortez  prepared  to  embark  in  an  open  boat, 
and  push  out  fearlessly  but  secretly  into  the  open 
sea,  to  make  a voyage  of  nearly  sixty  miles  to 
Hispaniola.  There  he  was  to  enter  his  com- 
plaints to  Diego  Columbus.  The  conspiracy 
was  detected  upon  the  eve  of  its  execution. 
Cortez  was  arrested,  manacled,  thrown  into 
prison,  and  was,  after  trial,  sentenced  to  death 


38 


Hernando  Cortez. 


He  flees  to  a church.  Arrest  and  escape. 

for  treason.  He,  however,  succeeded  in  break- 
ing his  fetters,  forced  open  his  prison  window, 
and  dropped  himself  down,  in  the  darkness  of 
the  night,  from  the  second  story,  and  escaped  to 
the  sanctuary  of  a neighboring  church.  Such  a 
sanctuary,  in  that  day,  could  not  be  violated. 

A guard  was  secreted  to  watch  him.  He  re- 
mained in  the  church  for  several  days.  But  at 
length  impatience  triumphed  over  prudence,  and, 
as  he  attempted  one  night  to  escape,  he  was 
again  arrested,  more  strongly  chained,  and  was 
placed  on  board  a ship  to  be  sent  to  Hispaniola 
for  execution. 

The  code  of  Spanish  law  was  in  that  day  a 
bloody  one.  Spanish  governors  were  almost 
unlimited  despots.  Cortez  was  not  willing  to 
go  to  Hispaniola  with  the  cord  of  a convicted 
traitor  about  his  neck.  With  extraordinary 
fortitude,  he  drew  his  feet,  mangling  them  sad- 
ly, through  the  irons  which  shackled  them. 
Creeping  cautiously  upon  deck,  he  let  himself 
down  softly  into  the  water,  swam  to  the  shore, 
and,  half  dead  with  pain  and  exhaustion,  at- 
tained again  the  sanctuary  of  the  church. 

He  now  consented  to  marry  the  young  lady 
with  whose  affections  and  reputation  he  had  so 
cruelly  trifled.  The  family,  of  course,  espoused 


39 


Early  Life  of  Cortez. 

Cortez  is  pardoned.  His  marriage.  Voyage  of  discovery. 

his  cause.  The  governor,  who  was  the  lover  of 
her  sister,  regarded  this  as  the  amende  honor - 
able,  and  again  received  the  hot-blooded  cava- 
lier to  his  confidence.  Thus  this  black  and 
threatening  cloud  suddenly  disappeared,  and 
sunshine  and  calm  succeeded  the  storm.  Cor- 
tez returned  to  his  estates  with  his  bride  a 
wiser,  and  perhaps  a better  man,  from  the  se- 
vere discipline  through  which  he  had  passed. 
Catalina  Suarez,  whom  he  married,  was  an  ami- 
able and  beautiful  lady  of  very  estimable  char- 
acter. She  eventually  quite  won  the  love  of 
her  wayward  and  fickle  husband. 

“ I lived  as  happily  with  her,”  said  the 
haughty  Castilian,  “as  if  she  had  been  the 
daughter  of  a duchess.” 

Velasquez,  like  every  other  Spanish  governor 
at  that  time,  was  ambitious  of  extending  his 
dominions.  In  the  year  1517,  a number  of 
restless  spirits,  under  his  patronage,  resolved  to 
sail  upon  a voyage  of  discovery  and  conquest. 

Three  vessels  were  fitted  out  for  this  adven- 
ture. One  hundred  and  ten  men  embarked  in 
the  enterprise,  under  the  command  of  Francisco 
Hernandez,  of  Cordova.  Velasquez  directed 
them  to  land  upon  some  neighboring  islands, 
and  seize  a number  of  inhabitants,  and  make 


40 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Discoveries  Disasters.  Reports  from  Yucatan. 

slaves  of  them,  to  pay  the  cost  of  the  expedition. 
“But  when  the  proposal,”  says  one  of  the  par- 
ty, “ was  made  known  to  the  soldiers,  we  to  a 
man  refused  it,  saying  that  it  was  not  just, 
nor  did  God  or  the  king  permit  that  tree  men 
should  be  made  slaves.  That  our  expedition,” 
the  same  writer  continues,  “ might  be  conduct- 
ed on  proper  principles,  we  persuaded  a clergy- 
man to  accompany  us.”  In  fervent  prayer, 
commending  themselves  to  God  and  the  Vir- 
gin, they  unfurled  their  sails,  and  steered  reso- 
lutely toward  the  setting  sun.  They  discover- 
ed the  island  of  Cozumel  and  the  vast  promon- 
tory of  Yucatan.*  The  expedition,  however, 
encountered  many  disasters.  The  natives  as- 
sailed them  fiercely.  At  length  the  shattered 
ships  returned,  having  lost  seventy  men,  and 
bringing  with  them  quite  a number  bleeding  and 
dying.  Cordova  died  of  his  wounds  ten  days 
after  arriving  at  Havana. 

The  tidings,  however,  of  the  magnificent  dis- 
covery, and  the  fabulous  report  that  the  coun- 
try was  rich  in  gold,  incited  Velasquez  to  fit 

* Yuca  is  the  Indian  name  of  the  plant  used  for  bread. 
The  heap  of  earth  in  which  it  is  planted  is  called  tule.  The 
two  words  repeated  together  made  Yucatul,  or  Yucatan  as  it 
was  expressed  by  the  Spaniards. — Bernal  Diaz , p.  10. 


Ear^y  Life  of  Cortez. 


41 


Another  expedition.  It  arrives  at  Mexico.  Accounts  from  Montezuma. 

out  a second  expedition  of  four  ships,  under 
the  command  of  Juan  de  Grijalva.  Two  hun- 
dred and  forty  adventurers  embarked  in  the  en- 
terprise. On  the  5th  day  of  April,  1518,  after 
having  devoutly  partaken  of  the  sacrament  of 
the  Lord’s  Supper,  the  anchors  were  lifted,  and 
the  little  squadron  sailed  from  the  port  of  Ma- 
tanzas.  Eight  days  brought  them  to  Cozumel. 
They  then  passed  over  to  the  continent,  and 
coasted  along  the  shore  for  many  leagues  to  the 
north  and  west.  They  made  frequent  attempts 
to  land  and  open  intercourse  with  the  natives, 
but  they  were  invariaby  attacked  with  the  ut- 
most determination.  Though  the  Spaniards 
were  generally  victorious  in  these  conflicts,  they 
lost  several  men,  and  very  many  were  sorely 
wounded.  At  length  they  arrived  upon  the 
coast  of  Mexico,  and  landed  at  the  point  now 
called  St.  Juan  de  Ulua.  Here  they  were  kind- 
ly received  by  the  natives,  and  acquired  consid- 
erable gold  in  exchange  for  glass  beads.  They 
also  obtained  vague  information  of  the  great 
monarch  Montezuma,  and  of  the  extent  and 
power  of  his  realms.  Greatly  elated  with  this 
success,  Grijalva  sent  one  of  his  vessels  back 
to  Cuba  with  specimens  of  the  gold,  and  witli 
most  glowing  accounts  of  the  grandeur,  wealth, 


42 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  golden  hatchets.  Reports  carried  to  Spain. 

and  power  of  the  newly-discovered  empire  of 
Mexico.  To  their  extreme  delight,  the  voya- 
gers found  that  the  natives  had  hatchets  appar- 
ently of  solid  burnished  gold.  The  excitement 
was  intense  on  board  the  ships.  Six  hundred 
of  these  hatchets  were  eagerly  bought.  At 
length  the  expedition  returned  to  Cuba.  The 
six  hundred  golden  hatchets  were  triumphantly 
displayed,  when,  to  the  unutterable  chagrin  of 
their  possessors,  they  proved  to  be  but  copper. 
The  disappointed  adventurers  were  overwhelm- 
ed with  ridicule.  “There  was  much  laughter,” 
says  Diaz,  who  accompanied  the  expedition, 
“ when  the  six  hundred  hatchets  were  produced 
and  assayed.” 

The  tidings  of  the  discovery  of  Mexico  spread, 
however,  like  wildfire  over  the  island  of  Cuba. 
Every  bosom  which  could  be  moved  by  avarice 
or  by  the  love  of  adventure  was  intensely  ex- 
cited. Velasquez  promptly  dispatched  the  wel- 
come intelligence  to  Spain,  and  immediately 
commenced  fitting  out  another  expedition  upon 
a scale  of  grandeur  hitherto  unattempted.  No 
one  heard  these  tidings  with  such  a thrill  of 
emotion  as  Hernando  Cortez.  Though  enjoy- 
ing a rich  estate,  his  extravagance  had  involved 
him  in  debt  and  distress.  To  retrieve  his  ru- 


Early  Life  of  Cortez. 


43 


Cortez  obtains  a commission.  His  enthusiasm. 

ined  fortunes,  and  to  gratify  liis  insatiable  love 
of  adventure,  he  resolved  to  leave  no  efforts  un- 
tried to  secure  for  himself  the  command  of  the 
expedition. 

He  bribed  some  of  the  powerful  friends  of 
the  governor  to  advocate  his  cause,  promising 
them  a rich  share  of  the  booty  which  he  hoped 
to  obtain.  He  also  offered  to  contribute  large- 
ly of  his  own  wealth  to  fit  out  the  naval  arma- 
ment. 

It  was  manifest  to  all  that  there  could  not  be 
a man  better  adapted  to  fill  such  a post  than 
Hernando  Cortez.  The  governor  was  well  in- 
structed in  his  energy,  capacity,  and  courage. 
But  he  feared  these  traits  of  character.  He 
wished  for  a man  who  would  act  as  his  agent, 
who  would  be  submissive  to  his  authority,  and 
who  would  transfer  the  glory  of  successful 
achievement  to  his  name.  But  Cortez  was  a 
man  to  lead,  not  to  be  led.  The  governor  hes- 
itated. At  last  he  yielded  to  the  powerful  con- 
siderations which  were  pressed  upon  him,  and 
publicly  announced  Cortez  as  captain  general 
of  the  armada. 

As  soon  as  Cortez  received  this  commission, 
all  the  glowing  enthusiasm  and  tremendous  en- 
ergy  of  his  nature  were  roused  and  concentrated 


44 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Mission  and  means.  The  governor  alarmed. 

upon  this  one  magnificent  object.  His  whole 
character  seemed  suddenly  to  experience  a total 
change.  He  became  serious,  earnest,  thought- 
ful Mighty  destinies  were  in  his  hands. 
Deeds  were  to  be  accomplished  at  which  the 
world  was  to  marvel.  Strange  as  it  may  seem, 
for  the  heart  of  man  is  an  inexplicable  enigma, 
religion,  perhaps  we  should  say  religious  fanat- 
icism, mingled  the  elements  of  her  mystic  pow- 
er in  the  motives  which  inspired  the  soul  of 
this  extraordinary  man.  He  was  to  march  the 
apostle  of  Christianity  to  overthrow  the  idols  in 
the  halls  of  Montezuma,  and  there  to  rear  the 
cross  of  Christ.  It  was  his  heavenly  mission 
to  convert  the  benighted  Indians  to  the  religion 
of  Jesus.  With  the  energies  of  fire  and  sword, 
misery  and  blood,  horses  rushing  to  the  charge 
and  death-dealing  artillery,  he  was  to  lead  back 
the  wandering  victims  of  darkness  and  sin  to 
those  paths  of  piety  which  guide  to  heaven. 

Such  was  Hernando  Cortez.  Let  Philoso- 
phy explain  the  enigma  as  she  may,  no  intelli- 
gent man  will  venture  the  assertion  that  Cortez 
was  a hypocrite.  He  was  a frank,  fearless,  de- 
luded enthusiast. 

Governor  Velasquez  soon  became  alarmed  in 
view  of  the  independent  energy  with  which  Cor- 


Early  Life  of  Cortez. 


45 


Attempt  to  deprive  Cortez  of  the  command.  The  squadron  sails. 

tez  pressed  forward  the  enterprise.  It  was 
quite  evident  that  the  bold  adventurer  would 
regard  no  instructions,  and  that,  having  acquired 
wealth  and  fame,  he  would,  with  his  command- 
ing genius,  become  a formidable  rival.  Velas- 
quez therefore  determined,  before  it  should  be 
too  late,  to  deprive  Cortez  of  the  command. 
But  it  was  already  too  late.  The  energetic 
captain  received  from  a friend  an  intimation  of 
his  peril.  With  the  decision  which  marked  his 
character,  he  that  very  night,  though  the  ves- 
sels were  not  prepared  for  sea,  and  the  comple- 
ment of  men  was  not  yet  mustered,  resolved  se- 
cretly to  weigh  anchor. 

The  moment  the  sun  went  down  he  called 
upon  his  officers  and  informed  them  of  his  pur- 
pose. Every  man  was  instantly  and  silently 
in  motion.  At  midnight  the  little  squadron, 
with  all  on  board,  dropped  down  the  bay.  In- 
telligence was  promptly  conveyed  to  the  gov- 
ernor of  this  sudden  and  unexpected  departure. 
Mounting  his  horse,  he  galloped  to  a point  of 
the  shore  which  commanded  a view  of  the  fleet 
at  anchor  in  the  roadstead.  Cortez,  from  the 
deck  of  his  ship,  saw  the  governor  upon  the 
beach  surrounded  by  his  retinue.  He  entered 
a boat  and  was  rowed  near  to  the  shore.  The 


46 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cortez  and  the  governor.  St.  Jago  and  Trinidad. 

governor  reproached  Cortez  bitterly  for  his 
conduct. 

“Pardon  me,”  said  the  captain,  courteously  ; 
“ time  presses,  and  there  are  some  things  which 
should  be  done  before  they  are  even  thought  of.  ” 

Then,  with  Castilian  grace,  waving  an  adieu 
to  the  governor,  he  returned  to  his  ship.  The 
anchors  were  immediately  raised,  the  sails 
spread,  and  the  little  fleet,  the  renown  of  whose 
extraordinary  achievements  was  to  fill  the 
world,  was  wafted  from  the  harbor  of  St.  Jago, 
and  soon  disappeared  in  the  distant  horizon  of 
the  sea. 

St.  Jago  was  then  the  capital  of  Cuba.  Cor- 
tez directed  his  course  to  Mocaca,  about  thirty 
miles  distant.  Hastily  collecting  such  addi- 
tional stores  as  the  place  would  afford,  he  again 
weighed  anchor  and  proceeded  to  Trinidad. 
This  was  an  important  town  on  the  southern 
shore  of  the  island.  Here  he  landed,  raised  his 

banner,  and,  with  alluring  promises,  invited  vol- 
unteers to  join  the  expedition.  He  marshaled 
and  drilled  his  men,  collected  military  supplies, 
and,  more  than  all,  by  the  charms  of  his  daily 
intercourse  secured  the  enthusiastic  devotion  of 
his  followers. 

His  men  were  armed  with  cross-bows  and 


CORTEZ  TAKING  LEAVE  OF  THE  GOVERNOR. 


Early  Life  of  Cortez.  49 


The  standard.  Providential  gifts. 

muskets,  and  he  had  several  small  cannon. 
Jackets,  thickly  wadded  with  cotton,  were  pro- 
vided as  coats  of  mail  for  the  soldiers,  which 
were  a great  protection  against  the  missiles  of 
the  natives.  Neither  arrow  nor  javelin  could 
pierce  them.  A black  velvet  banner,  embroid- 
ered with  gold,  and  emblazoned  with  a cross, 
bore  the  characteristic  device, 

“Let  us  follow  the  cross.  Under  this  sign, 
with  faith,  we  conquer.” 

Beneath  such  a standard  did  these  stern  men 
march  upon  an  expedition  of  wanton  aggres- 
sion, crime,  and  woe. 

A trading  vessel  appeared  off  the  coast,  laden 
with  provisions  and  valuable  merchandise.  It 
was  a providential  gift  of  exactly  that  which 
the  adventurers  needed.  Cortez,  with  gratitude 
to  God,  seized  both  ship  and  cargo,  and  by  his 
peculiar  powers  of  moral  suasion  induced  the 
captain  and  most  of  the  crew  to  enlist  in  his 
service.  Another  ship  made  its  appearance; 
it  was  a renewed  token  of  God’s  kindness  to 
his  servants ; it  was  received  with  alacrity. 
Whatever  remonstrances  the  owners  might  raise 
were  drowned  in  thanksgivings  and  praises. 
Every  movement  of  the  expedition  was  inspired 
by  the  fanatical  spirit  of  the  Crusades. 

D 


50 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Orders  to  arrest  Cortez.  His  speech.  The  result. 

Cortez  now,  'with  his  force  much  strengthen- 
ed, sailed  around  the  western  point  of  the  isl- 
and to  Havana.  With  renewed  diligence,  he 
here  resumed  his  labor  of  beating  up  recruits 
and  of  augmenting  his  stores.  Governor  Ve- 
lasquez, informed  of  his  arrival  at  this  port,  dis- 
patched orders  to  Pedro  Barba,  commander  at 
Havana,  to  arrest  Cortez  and  seize  the  fleet. 
But  it  was  much  easier  to  issue  this  order  than 
to  execute  it.  Cortez  was  now  too  strong  to 
be  apprehended  by  any  force  which  Barba  had 
at  his  command.  Cortez  received  from  a friend 
an  intimation  of  the  order  for  his  arrest  which 
had  been  received  from  the  governor. 

He  assembled  his  bold  followers  around  him ; 
made  a rousing  speech,  full  of  eloquence  and  of 
the  peculiar  piety  then  in  vogue ; painted  in 
glowing  colors  the  wealth  and  the  renown  open- 
ing before  them  in  the  vast  realms  of  Mexico ; 
and  then  portrayed,  with  biting  sarcasm,  the 
jealousy  and  the  meanness  of  Velasquez,  who 
wished  to  deprive  him  of  the  command  of  the 
enterprise. 

The  speech  was  convincing.  His  tumultu- 
ary followers  threw  up  their  hats  and  filled  the 
air  with  acclamations.  They  declared  that  they 
would  acknowledge  Cortez,  and  Cortez  only, 


iQF  WASHINGTON 


Early  Life  of  Cortez. 


53 


Cortez  writes  to  Velasquez.  The  squadron  proceeds  to  Cape  Antonio. 

as  their  leader ; that  they  would  follow  him 
wherever  he  might  guide ; that  they  would  de- 
fend him  with  their  lives,  and  that  they  would 
wreak  unsparing  vengeance  upon  any  enemies 
who  should  attempt  to  molest  him  in  his  glori- 
ous career.  This  was  the  efficient  reply  which 
Cortez  made  to  the  order  for  his  arrest. 

The  reply  was  not  lost  upon  Barba.  He 
perceived  that  it  would  be  folly  to  attempt  to 
execute  the  command  of  the  governor.  He 
wrote  to  him  accordingly,  stating  the  impracti- 
cability of  the  attempt.  In  fact,  Barba  had  no 
disposition  to  arrest  Cortez.  He  had  become 
strongly  attached  to  the  bold  and  earnest  cap- 
tain. Cortez  himself  also  wrote  a very  court- 
eous letter  to  the  governor,  with  studied  polite- 
ness informing  him  that,  with  the  blessing  of 
God,  he  should  sail  the  next  day,  and  assuring 
the  governor  of  eternal  devotion  to  his  interest. 
As  there  was  some  danger  that  Velasquez  might 
send  from  St.  Jago  a force  sufficiently  strong  to 
cause  some  embarrassment,  the  little  squadron 
the  next  morning  weighed  anchor  and  proceed- 
ed to  Cape  Antonio,  an  appointed  place  of  ren- 
dezvous on  the  extreme  western  termination  of 
the  island. 

Here  Cortez  completed  his  preparations  and 


54 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  armament.  Personal  appearance  of  Cortez. 

collected  all  the  force  he  desired.  He  had  now 
eleven  vessels.  The  largest  was  of  but  one 
hundred  tons.  Three  were  of  but  seventy  tons, 
and  the  rest  were  open  barks.  His  whole 
force  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  ten  seamen, 
five  hundred  and  fifty-three  soldiers,  two  hun- 
dred Indians,  and  a few  Indian  women  for  me- 
nial service.  His  regular  soldiers  consisted  of 
sixteen  horsemen,  thirty  musketeers,  and  thir- 
ty-two cross-bowmen.  He  had  also,  as  the 
most  formidable  part  of  his  armament,  fourteen 
pieces  of  artillery,  with  an  ample  supply  of  am- 
munition. All  the  soldiers,  excepting  the  mus- 
keteers and  the  bowmen,  were  armed  simply 
with  swords  and  spears.  Sixteen  horses  form- 
ed also  an  exceedingly  important  part  of  the 
physical  force  of  the  army.  This  noble  animal 
had  never  yet  been  seen  on  the  continent  of 
America.  With  great  difficulty,  a few  had  been 
transported  across  the  ocean  from  Spain.  With 
such  a force  this  enthusiastic  adventurer  under- 
took the  subjugation  of  a nation  of  many  mill- 
ions. 

Cortez  was  now  thirty-three  years  of  age. 
He  was  a handsome,  well-formed  man,  of  me- 
dium stature,  of  pale,  intellectual  features,  with 
a piercing,  dark  eye,  and  frank  and  winning 


Early  Life  of  Cortez. 


55 


The  eve  of  departure.  The  harangue. 

manners.  He  was  temperate,  indifferent  re- 
specting all  personal  comforts,  and  reckless  of 
hardship  and  peril.  He  folly  appreciated  the 
influence  of  dress,  and  ever  appeared  in  the  rich 
garb  of  a Spanish  gentleman.  He  was  court- 
ly yet  frank  in  his  manners,  and  possessed  a 
peculiar  power  of  attracting  to  his  person  all 
who  approached  him. 

On  the  eve  of  his  departure  from  Cape  An- 
tonio, he  again  assembled  his  followers  around 
him,  and  thus  harangued  them : 

“The  enterprise  in  which  you  are  engaged 
will  fill  the  world  with  your  renown.  I am 
leading  you  to  countries  more  vast  and  opulent 
than  European  eyes  have  ever  yet  beheld.  It 
is  a glorious  prize  which  I present  to  you.  But 
this  prize  can  only  be  won  by  hardship  and 
toil.  Great  deeds  are  only  achieved  by  great 
exertions.  Glory  is  never  the  reward  of  sloth. 
I have  labored  hard  and  staked  my  all  on  this 
undertaking,  for  I love  that  renown  which  is 
the  noblest  recompense  of  man. 

“ Do  you  covet  riches  more  ? Be  true  to  me, 
and  I will  make  you  masters  of  wealth  of  which 
you  have  never  dreamed.  You  are  few  in  num- 
bers, but  be  strong  in  resolution,  and  doubt  not 
that  the  Almighty,  who  has  never  deserted  the 


56 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Result  of  the  speech.  The  squadron  sails. 

Spaniard  in  his  contest  with  the  infidel,  will 
shield  you,  though  encompassed  by  enemies. 
Your  cause  is  just.  You  are  to  fight  under 
the  banner  of  the  cross.  Onward,  then,  with 
alacrity.  Gloriously  terminate  the  work  so 
auspiciously  begun.” 

This  speech  was  received  with  tumultuous 
cheers.  Mass  was  then  celebrated  by  the  ec- 
clesiastics who  accompanied  the  fleet,  and  with 
many  religious  ceremonies  the  squadron  was 
placed  under  the  protection  of  St.  Peter.  The 
anchors  were  raised,  the  sails  were  spread,  and 
a favoring  breeze  pressed  them  rapidly  over  the 
waves  toward  the  setting  sun.  It  was  the  18th 
of  February,  1519. 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico.  57 


The  voyage 


They  reach  the  island  of  Cozumel. 


Chapter  III. 

The  Voyage  to  Mexico. 

IGHT  and  variable  winds  retarded  the 


progress  of  the  squadron  as  it  was  headed 
in  a southwesterly  direction  toward  the  shores 
of  Yucatan.  A terrible  tempest  succeeded,  and 
the  ships  were  driven  wildly  before  the  storm. 
But  after  the  lapse  of  about  a week,  as  the 
storm  abated,  they  were  cheered  by  the  sight 
of  land.  The  mountains  of  the  island  of  Cozu- 
mel rose  towering  before  them.  This  large  isl- 
and is  separated  from  the  main  land  of  Yucatan 
by  a channel  of  from  twelve  to  thirty  miles  in 
width. 

When  the  natives  saw  the  ships  approaching, 
they  fled  from  the  shores  in  terror.  Such  a 
fleet  must  have,  indeed,  presented  to  the  artless 
inhabitants  an  appalling  spectacle.  The  squad- 
ron cast  anchor  in  a spacious  bay,  and  those 
who  first  arrived  were  the  first  to  land.  The 
captain  of  one  of  the  vessels,  with  some  of  his 
crew,  entered  one  of  the  native  temples,  and, 
seeing  the  idol  decorated  with  gold,  seized  the 


58 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Treasures  seized.  The  island  and  its  inhabitants. 

treasure  promptly  as  lawful  prize,  and  also  cap- 
tured two  or  three  of  the  natives.  Cortez  was 
indignant  at  conduct  so  rash  and  impolitic.  He 
severely  rebuked  the  over-zealous  captain,  or- 
dered the  ornaments  to  be  replaced,  and  libera- 
ted the  captives  and  loaded  them  with  presents. 
He  thus  appeased  the  fears  of  the  natives,  and 
induced  them  to  return  to  their  dwellings. 
They  soon  became  quite  reconciled  to  the  stran- 
gers, and  opened  with  them  a lucrative  traffic. 
The  island  was  not  very  fertile,  and  was  thinly 
inhabited  ; but  the  natives  had  large  and  com- 
fortable houses,  built  of  stone  cemented  with 
mortar.  There  were  several  spacious  temples, 
with  lofty  towers,  constructed  of  the  same  du- 
rable materials.  The  adventurers  were  also 
exceedingly  surprised  to  find  in  the  court-yard 
of  one  of  the  temples  an  idol  in  the  form  of  a 
massive  stone  cross.  It  was  erected  in  honor  of 
the  god  of  rain.  It  is,  indeed,  a curious  question, 
and  one  which  probably  will  never  be  answer- 
ed, how  the  natives  of  this  new  world  obtained 
those  apparently  shadowy  ideas  of  Christianity. 
They  certainly  performed  the  rite  of  baptism. 
The  cross  was  one  of  their  idols.  They  also  be- 
lieved in  original  sin,  which  was  to  be  in  some 
way  removed  by  sprinkling  an  infant  with  water. 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico.  59 


Exploring  parties  to  the  main  land.  Missionary  labors 

Cortez  remained  upon  this  island  about  a 
fortnight.  During  this  time  all  his  energies 
were  engrossed  in  accomplishing  the  great  ob- 
ject of  his  mission.  He  sent  two  vessels  to  the 
main  land  to  make  inquiries  about  some  Span- 
iards, who,  it  was  reported,  had  been  shipwreck- 
ed upon  the  coast,  and  were  still  lingering  in 
captivity.  The  captain  in  command  of  this  ex- 
pedition was  instructed  to  return  within  eight 
days.  Several  parties  were  also  sent  in  various 
directions  to  explore  the  island  thoroughly  and 
ascertain  its  resources. 

But  one  of  the  most  important  objects,  in  the 
estimation  of  Cortez,  to  be  accomplished,  was 
the  conversion  of  the  natives  to  the  Catholic  re- 
ligion. He  had  with  him  several  ecclesiastics 
— men  whose  sincerity  no  candid  man  can  doubt. 
The  Indians  were  assembled,  and  urged,  through 
an  interpreter,  to  abandon  their  idols  and  turn 
to  the  living  God.  The  simple  natives  under- 
stood but  little  of  the  harangue,  except  the  in- 
junction to  destroy  their  idols.  At  this  sug- 
gestion they  were  horror-stricken.  They  as- 
sured Cortez  that  were  they  to  harm  or  insult 
their  gods,  destruction  in  every  awful  form 
would  immediately  overwhelm  them. 

The  bold  warrior  wielded  bold  arguments. 


60 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  first  mass  Miraculous  conversions. 

His  logic  was  truly  military.  With  his  mailed 
cavaliers  he  made  a prompt  onslaught  upon  the 
idols,  hewed  them  down,  smashed  them  to  pieces, 
and  tumbled  the  dishonored  and  mutilated  frag- 
ments into  the  streets.  He  then  constructed  a 
Christian  altar,  reared  a cross  and  an  image  of 
the  holy  Virgin  and  the  holy  child,  and  mass, 
with  all  its  pomp  of  robes,  and  chants,  and  in- 
cense, was  for  the  first  time  performed  in  the 
temples  of  Yucatan. 

The  natives  were  at  first  overwhelmed  with 
grief  and  terror  as  they  gazed  upon  their  pros- 
trate deities.  But  no  earthquake  shook  the  isl- 
and ; no  lightning  sped  its  angry  bolt ; no  thun- 
der broke  down  the  skies.  The  sun  still  shone 
tranquilly,  and  ocean,  earth,  and  sky  smiled  un- 
troubled. The  natives  ceased  to  fear  gods  who 
could  not  protect  themselves,  and  without  far- 
ther argument  consented  to  exchange  their  un- 
gainly idols  for  the  far  prettier  idols  of  the  stran- 
gers. The  heart  of  Cortez  throbbed  with  en- 
thusiasm and  pride  as  he  contemplated  his  great 
and  glorious  achievement — an  achievement,  in 
his  view,  unparalleled  by  the  miracles  of  Peter 
or  of  Paul.  In  one  short  fortnight  he  had  con- 
verted these  islanders  from  the  service  of  Satan, 
and  had  won  them  to  that  faith  which  would 


THE  FIRST  MASS  IN  THE  TEMPLES  OF  YUCATAN 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico.  63 


Return  of  the  exploring  party.  Arrival  of  Aguilar. 

secure  their  eternal  salvation.  The  fanatic  sin- 
cerity with  which  this  deed  was  accomplished 
does  not  redeem  it  from  the  sublimity  of  absurd- 
ity. Faith,  said  these  mailed  theologians,  saves 
the  soul;  and  these  pagans  have  now  turned 
from  their  idols  to  the  living  God.  It  is  true 
that  man  is  saved  by  faith,  but  it  is  that  faith 
which  works  by  love. 

In  the  mean  time  the  parties  returned  from 
the  exploration  of  the  island,  and  Orday  brought 
back  his  two  ships  from  the  main  land.  He 
was  unsuccessful  in  his  attempts  to  find  the 
shipwrecked  Spaniards.  Cortez  had  now  been 
at  Cozumel  a fortnight.  As  he  was  on  the 
point  of  taking  his  departure,  a frail  canoe  was 
seen  crossing  the  strait,  with  three  men  in  it, 
apparently  Indians,  and  entirely  naked.  As 
soon  as  the  canoe  landed,  one  of  the  men  ran 
frantically  to  the  Spaniards  and  informed  them 
that  he  was  a Christian  and  a countryman.  His 
name  was  Aguilar. 

Seven  years  ago,  the  vessel  in  which  he  was 
sailing  from  Darien  to  Hispaniola  foundered  in 
a gale.  The  ship’s  company,  twenty  in  num- 
ber, took  to  the  boats.  For  thirteen  days  they 
were  driven  about  at  the  mercy  of  the  winds 
and  currents.  Seven  perished  miserably  from 


64 


Hernando  Cortez. 


History  of  Aguilar’s  life  at  Yucatan.  Escape  and  capture. 

hunger  and  thirst.  The  rest  reached  the  bar- 
barian shores  of  Yucatan.  The  natives  seized 
them  as  captives,  guarded  them  carefully,  but 
fed  them  abundantly  with  the  choicest  food, 
and  inflicted  upon  them  no  sufferings,  and  re- 
quired of  them  no  toil.  Their  treatment  was 
an  enigma  which  was  soon  dreadfully  ex- 
plained. 

One  day  four  of  these  captives  who  were  in 
the  best  condition  were  selected,  sacrificed  upon 
the  bloody  altars  of  the  idols,  and  their  cooked 
flesh  served  up  for  a cannibal  repast.  The 
bowlings  of  the  savages  over  the  midnight  or- 
gies of  this  horrible  entertainment  fell  dismally 
upon  the  ears  of  the  miserable  survivors.  In 
their  despair  they  succeeded  in  escaping,  and 
fled  to  the  mountain  forests.  Here  they  wan- 
dered for  a time  in  the  endurance  of  awful  suf- 
ferings. At  length  they  were  again  taken  cap- 
tive by  the  cacique  or  chief  of  another  province. 
He  spared  their  lives,  but  made  them  menial 
slaves.  Their  masters  were  merciless  and  ex- 
acting in  the  extreme.  Under  this  rigorous 
treatment  all  died  but  two — Aguilar,  a priest, 
and  Guerrero,  a sailor.  The  sailor,  having  no 
scruples  of  any  kind,  and  being  ready  to  con- 
form himself  to  all  customs,  gradually  acquired 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico.  65 


Guerrero  lakes  to  savage  life.  Escape. 

the  good  will  of  the  savages.  He  obtained  re- 
nown as  a warrior ; identified  himself  entirely 
with  the  natives ; tattooed  his  face  ; slit  his 
ears,  his  lips,  and  his  nose,  for  those  dangling 
ornaments  which  ever  accompany  a barbarian 
taste,  and  took  to  him  a native  wife. 

Aguilar,  however,  was  a man  of  more  culti- 
vation and  refinement.  He  cherished  his  self- 
respect,  and,  resisting  all  enticements  to  marry 
an  Indian  maiden,  was  true  to  the  vows  of  cel- 
ibacy which  his  priestly  profession  imposed. 
Curious  stories  are  related  of  the  temptations  to 
which  the  natives  exposed  him.  Weary  years 
lingered  along,  presenting  no  opportunity  for 
escape.  Cortez  at  last  arrived  at  Cozumel. 
Some  Indians  carried  the  tidings  into  the  inte- 
rior. Aguilar  received  this  intelligence  with 
transport,  and  yet  with  trembling.  He,  how- 
ever, succeeded  in  reaching  the  coast,  accom- 
panied by  two  friendly  natives.  He  found  upon 
the  beach  a stranded  canoe,  half  buried  in  the 
sand.  Embarking  in  this  with  his  two  com- 
panions, they  paddled  themselves  across  the 
strait,  at  that  place  twelve  miles  wide,  to  the 
island.  The  frail  boat  was  seen  by  the  party 
of  Cortez  upon  the  surface  of  the  sea.  As  soon 
as  Aguilar  landed  he  dropped  upon  his  knees, 
E 


66 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Guerrero  remains  with  the  savages.  Squadron  again  sails. 

and  with  streaming  eyes  gave  thanks  to  God 
for  his  escape. 

His  companion  in  captivity  refused  to  accom- 
pany him.  “Brother  Aguilar,”  said  he,  after  a 
moment’s  thought,  “ I am  married.  I have 
three  sons,  and  am  a cacique  and  captain  in 
the  wars.  My  face  is  tattooed  and  my  ears 
bored.  What  would  the  Spaniards  think  of 
me  should  I now  go  among  them  ?”  All  Agui- 
lar’s entreaties  for  him  to  leave  were  unavailing. 

Aguilar  appears  to  have  been  truly  a good 
man.  As  he  had  acquired  a perfect  acquaint- 
ance with  the  language  of  the  natives,  and  with 
their  manners  and  customs,  Cortez  received  him 
as  a heaven-sent  acquisition  to  his  enterprise. 

On  the  4th  of  March  the  squadron  again  set 
sail,  and,  crossing  the  narrow  strait,  approach- 
ed the  shores  of  the  continent.  Sailing  direct- 
ly north  some  hundred  miles,  hugging  the  coast 
of  Yucatan,  Cortez  doubled  Cape  Catoche,  and 
turning  his  prow  to  the  west,  boldly  pressed 
forward  into  those  unknown  waters  which  seem- 
ed to  extend  interminably  before  him.  The 
shores  were  densely  covered  with  the  luxuriant 
foliage  of  the  tropics,  and  in  many  a bay  and 
on  many  a headland  could  be  discerned  the 
thronged  dwellings  of  the  natives. 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico.  67 


They  enter  the  Tabasco.  They  ascend  the  river.  Landing  postponed. 

After  sailing  west  about  two  hundred  miles, 
they  found  the  coast  again  turning  abruptly  to 
the  south.  Following  the  line  of  the  land  some 
three  hundred  miles  farther,  they  came  to  the 
broad  mouth  of  the  River  Tabasco,  which  Gri- 
jalva had  entered,  and  which  Cortez  was  seek- 
ing. A sand-bar  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  pre- 
vented the  heavily-loaded  vessels  from  passing. 
Cortez,  therefore,  cast  anchor,  and  taking  a 
strong  and  well-armed  party  in  the  boats,  as- 
cended the  shallow  stream. 

A forest  of  majestic  trees,  with  underwood 
dense  and  impervious,  lined  the  banks.  The 
naked  forms  of  the  natives  were  seen  gliding 
among  the  foliage,  following,  in  rapidly-accu- 
mulating numbers,  the  advance  of  the  boats, 
and  evincing,  by  tone  and  gesture,  any  thing  but 
a friendly  spirit.  At  last,  arriving  at  an  open- 
ing in  the  forest,  where  a smooth  and  grassy 
meadow  extended  with  gradual  ascent  from 
the  stream,  the  boats  drew  near  the  shore,  and 
Cortez,  through  his  interpreter  Aguilar,  asked 
permission  to  land,  avowing  his  friendly  inten- 
tions. The  prompt  answer  was  the  clash  of 
weapons  and  shouts  of  defiance. 

Upon  this  Cortez  decided  to  postpone  a for- 
cible landing  until  the  morning,  and  retired  to 


68 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Encampment.  Preparation  for  the  conflict.  The  reception. 

a small  island  in  the  river  which  was  uninhab- 
ited. He  here  encamped  for  the  night,  estab- 
lishing a vigilant  line  of  sentinels  to  guard 
against  surprise. 

In  the  early  dawn  of  the  next  morning  the 
party  were  assembled  for  prayers  and  for  the 
celebration  of  mass.  They  then,  with  new  zeal 
and  courage,  entered  their  boats,  and  ascended 
the  glassy,  forest-fringed  stream,  upon  which 
the  morning  sun  shone  brightly.  Bird-songs 
filled  the  air,  and  hardly  a breath  of  wind  moved 
the  leaves,  glittering  in  the  brilliant  sunlight,  as 
these  bronzed  men  of  iron  sinews  moved  stern- 
ly on  to  the  demoniac  deeds  of  war.  The  na- 
tives, in  preparation  for  the  conflict,  had  been 
all  the  night  rallying  their  forces.  The  shore 
was  lined  with  their  war-canoes,  and  the  banks 
were  covered  with  Indian  troops  drawn  up  in 
martial  array.  Gorgeous  plumes  decorated 
their  persons,  and  the  rays  of  the  sun  were  re- 
flected from  their  polished  weapons.  As  soon 
as  the  Spanish  boats  appeared,  the  vast  army 
of  the  natives  raised  shouts  of  defiance,  and  the 
ear  was  almost  deafened  with  the  clangor  of 
their  trumpets  and  drums. 

The  battle  soon  commenced.  The  sky  was 
almost  darkened  by  the  shower  of  arrows  thrown 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico.  69 


The  battle.  The  charge.  Victory.  March  to  Tabasco. 

by  those  upon  the  land.  The  warriors  in  the 
canoes  fought  fiercely  with  their  javelins.  The 
conflict  was  bloody,  but  short.  Native  valor 
could  avail  but  little  against  European  disci- 
pline and  art.  The  spears,  stones,  and  arrows 
of  the  natives  fell  almost  harmless  upon  the  hel- 
mets and  shields  of  the  Spaniards  ; but  the  bul- 
lets from  the  guns  of  the  invaders  swept  like 
hail-stones  through  the  crowded  ranks  of  the 
natives,  unimpeded  by  their  frail  weapons  of  de- 
fense. Cortez  himself  headed  a charge  which 
broke  resistlessly  into  the  hostile  ranks.  Ap- 
palled by  the  terrific  thunder  and  lightning  of 
the  musketry,  the  Indians  soon  scattered  and 
fled,  leaving  the  ground  covered  with  their  slain. 

Cortez  now  reviewed  his  troops  in  triumph 
upon  the  shore.  He  found  that  fourteen  were 
-wounded,  but  none  slain.  To  attend  to  the 
wounded  and  to  rest  his  exhausted  men,  he 
again  encamped.  The  bloodstained  banner  of 
the  cross,  which  they  had  so  signally  dishon- 
ored, floated  proudly  over  their  intrenchments. 
Prayers  were  offered  and  mass  celebrated  in 
honor  of  the  victory  achieved  by  Christian  arms 
against  idolaters.  The  next  morning  the  Span- 
iards marched  unresisted  to  Tabasco,  the  capi- 
tal of  the  province,  a large  town  upon  the  river. 


70 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Possession  taken  of  the  town.  Gathering  of  the  native*. 

but  a few  miles  above  the  place  where  the  in- 
vaders had  effected  a landing.  The  inhabitants, 
men,  women,  and  children,  fled  from  the  place 
in  dismay. 

Cortez  took  possession  of  the  town  in  the 
name  of  the  King  of  Spain.  But  the  whole 
surrounding  region  was  now  aroused.  The  na- 
tives, in  numbers  which  could  not  be  counted, 
gathered  in  the  vicinity  of  Tabasco,  and  organ- 
ized their  forces  anew,  to  repel,  if  possible,  the 
terrible  foe.  They  were  assembled  on  the  great 
plain  of  Ceutla.  Cortez  had  anticipated  this, 
and  was  also  gathering  his  strength  for  a de- 
cisive battle.  He  sent  to  the  ships  for  six 
pieces  of  cannon,  his  whole  cavalry  of  sixteen 
horses,  and  every  available  man.  A few  only 
were  left  to  guard  the  vessels.  This  powerful 
re-enforcement  soon  arrived.  Thus  strength- 
ened, his  whole  army  was  called  together  to 
celebrate  the  solemnities  of  mass,  and  to  implore 
the  blessing  of  God  in  extending  the  triumphs 
of  the  cross  over  the  kingdom  of  Satan.  Thus 
they  marched  forth,  with  powder,  and  ball,  and 
neighing  steeds,  to  the  merciless  slaughter  of 
those  brave  men  who  were  fighting  for  their 
country  and  their  homes. 

The  Spaniards  now  advanced  to  meet  their 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico. 


71 


The  two  armies  meet.  The  conflict. 

foes.  It  was  a lovely  morning,  the  25th  of 
March.  The  natives,  in  point  of  civilization, 
raised  far  above  the  condition  of  savages,  had 
large  fields  in  a high  state  of  cultivation,  wav- 
ing with  the  rich  vegetation  of  the  tropics. 
After  a march  of  three  or  four  miles  through  a 
country  cultivated  like  a garden,  they  arrived 
at  the  ground  occupied  by  the  native  army. 
The  lines  of  their  encampments  were  so  extend- 
ed and  yet  so  crowded  that  the  Spaniards  esti- 
mated their  numbers  at  over  forty  thousand. 
To  meet  them  in  the  strife  Cortez  had  but  six 
hundred  men.  But  his  terrible  engines  of  de- 
struction made  his  force  more  powerful  than 
theirs.  The  natives  were  ready  for  the  battle. 
They  greeted  their  assailants  with  a war-whoop, 
which  rose  in  thunder  tones  over  the  plain,  and 
showered  upon  them  volleys  of  arrows,  sling- 
stones,  and  javelins.  At  this  first  discharge, 
seventy  Spaniards  were  wounded  and  one  was 
slain.  The  conflict  soon  raged  with  all  imagin- 
able horrors.  The  natives  fought  with  the  cour- 
age of  desperation.  They  seemed  even  regard- 
less of  the  death-dealing  muskets.  And  when 
the  terrible  cannon,  with  its  awful  roar,  opened 
huge  gaps  in  their  ranks,  manfully  they  cloeed 
up,  and  with  new  vigor  pressed  the  onset.  The 


72 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  cavalry  charge.  Terror  of  the  natives.  The  flight. 

odds  were  so  fearful  that  for  some  time  it  seem- 
ed quite  doubtful  on  which  side  victory  would 
rest. 

Cortez,  heading  his  cavalry,  swept  around  the 
plain,  and,  by  a circuitous  route,  came  unper- 
ceived upon  the  rear  of  the  tumultuous  foe. 
The  sixteen  horsemen,  clad  in  steel,  urging 
their  horses  to  their  utmost  speed,  with  loud 
shouts  and  sabres  gleaming  in  the  air,  plunged 
into  the  midst  of  the  throng.  Their  keen-edged 
swords  fell  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left 
upon  the  almost  naked  bodies  of  the  natives. 
At  the  same  moment,  the  energies  of  musketry 
and  artillery  were  plied  with  murderous  car- 
nage. 

The  natives  had  never  seen  a horse  before. 
They  thought  the  rider  and  the  steed  one  ani- 
mal. As  these  terrific  monsters,  half  human, 
half  beast,  came  bounding  into  their  midst,  cut- 
ting down  and  trampling  beneath  iron  hoofs  all 
who  stood  in  the  way,  while  at  the  same  time 
the  appalling  roar  of  the  cannonade  seemed  to 
shake  the  very  hills,  the  scene  became  too  aw- 
ful for  mortal  courage  to  endure.  The  whole 
mighty  mass,  in  uncontrollable  dismay,  fled 
from  the  presence  of  foes  of  such  demoniac  as- 
pect and  energy.  The  slaughter  of  these  poor 


FIRST  CAVALRY  CHARGE  HEADED  BY  CORTEZ 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico.  75 


Estimates  of  the  number  killed.  The  declaration. 

Indians  was  so  awful  that  some  of  the  Span- 
iards extravagantly  estimated  the  number  left 
dead  upon  the  field  at  thirty  thousand.  Though 
many  of  the  Spaniards  were  wounded,  but  two 
were  killed. 

Cortez  immediately  assembled  his  army  un- 
der a grove  upon  the  field  of  battle  to  give 
thanks  to  God  for  the  victory.  The  pomp  and 
pageantry  of  war  gave  place  to  the  pomp  and 
pageantry  of  the  Church.  Canonical  robes  and 
banners  fluttered  in  the  breeze,  processions 
marched,  the  smoke  of  incense  floated  in  the 
air,  and  mass,  with  all  its  imposing  solemnities, 
was  celebrated  in  the  midst  of  prayers  and 
thanksgivings. 

“Then,”  says  Diaz,  “after  dressing  our 
wounds  with  the  fat  of  Indians  whom  we  found 
dead  thereabout,  and  having  placed  good  guards 
round  our  post,  we  ate  our  supper  and  went  to 
our  repose.” 

Under  the  placable  influence  of  these  devo- 
tions, the  conqueror  sent  word  to  the  vanquish- 
ed that  he  would  now  forgive  them  if  they 
would  submit  unconditionally  to  his  authority. 
But  he  declared  that  if  they  refused  this,  he 
would  ride  over  the  land,  and  put  every  thing 
in  it,  man,  woman,  and  child,  to  the  sword. 


76 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  natives  submissive.  The  new  religion.  St.  Mary  of  Victory 

The  spirit  of  resistance  was  utterly  crushed. 
The  natives  immediately  sent  a delegation  to 
him  laden  with  presents.  To  impress  these 
embassadors  still  more  deeply  with  a sense  of 
his  power,  he  exhibited  before  them  the  martial 
evolutions  of  his  cavalry,  and  showed  them  the 
effects  of  his  artillery  as  the  balls  were  sped 
crashing  through  the  trees  of  the  forest.  The 
natives  were  now  effectually  conquered,  and 
looked  upon  the  Spaniards  as  beings  of  super- 
natural powers,  wielding  the  terrors  of  thunder 
and  lightning,  and  whom  no  mortal  energies 
could  resist. 

They  had  become  as  little  children.  This 
Cortez  thought  a very  suitable  frame  of  mind 
to  secure  their  conversion.  He  recommended 
that  they  should  cast  down  their  idols,  and  ac- 
cept instead  the  gods  of  papal  Rome.  The  rec- 
ommendation of  Cortez  was  potent  over  the  now 
pliant  natives.  They  made  no  opposition  while 
the  soldiers,  whose  hands  were  hardly  yet  wash- 
ed of  the  blood  of  their  relatives,  hewed  down 
their  images.  With  very  imposing  ceremonies, 
the  religion  of  the  conquerors  was  instituted  in 
the  temples  of  Yucatan,  and,  in  honor  of  the 
Virgin  Mary,  the  name  of  Tabasco  was  changed 
into  St.  Mary  of  Victory. 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico.  77 


Motives  which  actuated  the  adventurers. 

In  all  this  tremendous  crime  there  was  ap- 
parently no  hypocrisy.  Human  motives  will 
seldom  hear  rigid  scrutiny.  Man’s  best  deeds 
are  tainted.  Cortez  was  very  sincere  in  his 
desire  to  overthrow  the  abominable  system  of 
idolatry  prevailing  among  the  natives.  He  per- 
haps truly  thought  that  these  violent  measures 
were  necessary  to  accomplish  this  object,  and 
that  Christianity,  thus  introduced,  would  prove 
an  inestimable  blessing.  We  may  abhor  his 
conduct,  while  we  can  still  make  generous  al- 
lowances for  the  darkness  of  his  mind  and  of 
the  age  in  which  he  lived.  It  requires  infinite 
wisdom  to  adjust  the  balance  of  human  deeds. 

Two  of  the  Catholic  ecclesiastics,  Olmedo  and 
Diaz,  were  probably  unaffected  Christians,  truly 
desiring  the  spiritual  renovation  of  the  Indians. 
They  felt  deeply  the  worth  of  the  soul,  and  did 
all  they  could  rightly  to  instruct  these  unhappy 
and  deeply-wronged  natives.  They  sincerely 
pitied  their  sufferings,  but  deemed  it  wise  that 
the  right  eye  should  be  plucked  out,  and  that 
the  right  arm  should  be  cut  off,  rather  than  that 
the  soul  should  perish.  It  is  a consoling  thought, 
that  “ like  as  a father  pitieth  his  children,  so 
the  Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear  Him ; for  he 
knoweth  our  frame,  he  remembereth  that  we 


78 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Christian  instruction.  Principle  and  practice.  The  altar. 

are  dust.”  The  natives  were  assembled  in 
their  temples ; they  came  together  in  immense 
multitudes.  The  priests,  through  their  inter- 
preter, Aguilar,  endeavored  to  instruct  them  in 
the  pure  doctrines  and  the  sublime  mysteries 
of  Christianity.  If  the  natives  perceived  a 
marked  difference  between  these  precepts  and 
the  awful  carnage  on  the  field  of  Ceutla,  it  was 
not  the  first  time  that  principles  and  practice 
have  been  found  discordant. 

A grand  religious  ceremony  was  instituted 
to  commemorate  the  conversion  of  the  nation. 
The  whole  army  took  a part  in  the  solemnities 
of  the  occasion,  with  all  the  martial  and  eccle- 
siastical pomp  which  their  situation  could  fur- 
nish. The  natives  in  countless  multitudes  join- 
ed the  procession,  and  gazed  with  astonishment 
upon  the  scene.  Advancing  to  the  principal 
pyramidal  temple  of  Tabasco,  which  was  an 
enormous  structure,  with  a vast  area  upon  its 
summit,  they  wound  around  its  sides  in  the  as- 
cent. Upon  this  lofty  platform,  beneath  the  un- 
clouded sun,  with  thousands  of  Indians  crowd- 
ing the  region  around  to  witness  the  strange 
spectacle,  a Christian  altar  was  reared,  the  im- 
ages of  the  Savior  and  of  the  Virgin  were  erect- 
ed, and  mass  was  celebrated.  Clouds  of  in- 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico. 


79 


Devotions.  Baptism.  The  presents.  Marina. 

cense  rose  into  the  still  air,  and  the  rich  voices 
of  the  Spanish  soldiers  swelled  the  solemn 
chant.  It  must  have  been  an  impressive  scene. 
There  must  have  been  some  there  into  whose 
eye  the  tear  of  devotion  gushed.  If  there  were 
in  that  throng — all  of  whom  have  long  since 
gone  to  judgment — one  single  broken  and  con- 
trite heart,  that  was  an  offering  which  God  could 
accept.  Father  Olmedo  preached  upon  the  oc- 
casion “many  good  things  touching  our  holy 
faith.”  Twenty  Indian  girls  who  had  been 
given  to  the  Spanish  captains  for  wives  were 
baptized. 

Cortez  having  thus,  in  the  course  of  a week, 
annexed  the  whole  of  these  new  provinces  of 
unknown  extent  to  Spain,  and  having  convert- 
ed the  natives  to  Christianity,  prepared  for  his 
departure.  The  natives,  among  their  propitia- 
tory offerings,  had  presented  to  Cortez,  as  we 
have  mentioned,  twenty  young  and  beautiful 
females  whom  they  had  captured  from  hostile 
tribes,  or  who  in  other  ways  had  become  their 
slaves.  Cortez  distributed  these  unenlightened 
maidens  among  his  captains,  having  first  select- 
ed one  of  the  youngest  and  most  beautiful  of 
them,  Marina,  for  his  wife.  Cortez  had  a wor- 
thy spouse  upon  his  plantation  at  Cuba.  No 


80 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Indulgences.  Character  of  Marina 

civil  or  religious  rites  sanctioned  this  unhallow- 
ed union  ; and  he  was  sufficiently  instructed 
to  know  that  he  was  sinning  against  the  laws 
of  both  God  and  man  ; but  the  conscience  of 
this  extraordinary  adventurer  had  become  in- 
volved in  labyrinths  utterly  inexplicable.  He 
seemed  to  judge  that  he  was  doing  so  much  for 
the  cause  of  Holy  Mother  Church  that  his  own 
private  sins  were  of  little  comparative  moment. 
His  many  good  deeds,  he  appeared  to  think, 
purchased  ample  indulgence. 

But  Marina  was  a noble  woman.  The  rela- 
tion which  she  sustained  to  Cortez  did  no  vio- 
lence to  her  instincts  or  to  her  conscience.  She 
had  never  been  instructed  in  the  school  of 
Christ.  Polygamy  was  the  religion  of  her  land. 
She  deemed  herself  the  honored  wife  of  Cortez, 
and  dreamed  not  of  wrong.  Marina  was  in  all 
respects  an  extraordinary  woman.  Nature  had 
done  much  for  her.  In  person  she  was  exceed- 
ingly beautiful.  She  had  winning  manners,  and 
a warm  and  loving  heart.  Her  mind  was  of  a 
superior  order.  She  very  quickly  mastered  the 
difficulties  of  the  Castilian  tongue,  and  thus 
spoke  three  languages  with  native  fluency — • 
the  Mexican,  the  Yucatanese,  and  the  Spanish. 
“I  am  more  happy,”  said  she  one  day,  “in 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico. 


81 


Her  career.  Her  devotion  to  Cortez. 

being  the  wife  of  my  lord  and  master  Cortez, 
and  of  having  a son  by  him,  than  if  I had  been 
sovereign  of  all  of  New  Spain.” 

Her  career  had  been  eventful  in  the  extreme. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  a rich  and  powerful 
cacique,  who  was  tributary  to  the  Emperor  of 
Mexico.  Her  father  died  during  her  infancy, 
and  her  mother  married  again.  A son  by  her 
new  husband  gradually  estranged  the  affections 
of  the  unnatural  mother  from  her  daughter. 
These  feelings  increased,  till  she  regarded  the 
child  with  deep  dislike,  and  secretly  gave  her 
away  to  some  slave-drivers,  circulating  the  re- 
port that  the  child  was  dead.  The  slave-mer- 
chants brought  her  from  her  distant  home, 
where  the  language  of  Mexico  was  her  native 
tongue,  and  sold  her  to  one  of  the  chiefs  of  Ta- 
basco. Here  she  acquired  the  language  of  Yu- 
catan. 

There  was  much  in  the  energy,  magnanimity, 
fearlessness,  and  glowing  temperament  of  Cor- 
tez to  rouse  a woman’s  love.  Marina  became 
devotedly  attached  to  him.  She  watched  over 
his  interests  with  a zeal  which  never  slumber- 
ed ; and  when  she  became  the  mother  of  his 
son,  still  more  tender  ties  bound  her  to  the  con- 
queror of  her  race.  In  subsequent  scenes  of 
F 


82 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Departure  from  Tabasco.  Blessings  left  behind. 

difficulty  and  danger,  her  acquaintance  with  the 
native  language,  manners,  and  customs  made 
her  an  invaluable  acquisition  to  the  expedition. 

After  a few  days  spent  at  Tabasco,  the  hour 
for  departure  came. 

The  boats,  decorated  with  the  banner  of  the 
cross,  and  with  palm  leaves,  the  symbols  of  hap- 
piness and  peace,  floated  down  the  beautiful 
river  to  the  squadron  riding  at  anchor  at  its 
mouth.  Again  spreading  the  sails,  and  catch- 
ing a favorable  breeze,  the  adventurers  were 
wafted  rejoicingly  on  toward  the  shores  of  Mex- 
ico. The  newly-converted  natives  were  left  to 
meditate  upon  the  instructions  which  they  had 
received — to  count  the  graves  of  the  slain — to 
heal,  as  they  could,  the  gory  wounds  and  splin- 
tered bones  of  their  friends,  still  writhing  in  an- 
guish, and  to  wail  the  funeral  dirge  in  the  deso- 
late homes  of  the  widow  and  the  orphan.  Sel- 
dom, in  the  history  of  the  world,  has  such  a 
whirlwind  of  woe  so  suddenly  burst  upon  any 
people.  How  long  they  continued  to  cherish  a 
religion  introduced  by  such  harbingers  we  are 
not  informed. 

The  sun  shone  brightly  on  the  broad  Mexi- 
can Gulf,  and  zephyrs  laden  with  fragrance  from 
the  luxuriant  shores  swelled  the  flowing  sheets. 


The  Voyage  to  Mexico.  83 


They  coast  along  the  shore.  Arrival  at  San  Juan  de  Ulua. 

As  the  fleet  crept  along  the  land,  the  temples 
and  houses  of  the  natives,  and  their  waving 
fields  of  grain,  were  distinctly  visible  from  the 
decks.  Many  a promontory  and  headland  was 
covered  with  multitudes  of  tawny  figures,  dec- 
orated with  all  the  attractions  of  barbarian 
splendor,  gazing  upon  the  fearful  phenomena 
of  the  passing  ships.  Cortez  continued  his 
course  several  hundred  miles,  sweeping  around 
the  shores  of  this  magnificent  gulf,  until  he  ar- 
rived at  the  island  of  San  Juan  de  Ulua.  He 
was  seeking  this  spot,  which  Grijalva  had  visit- 
ed, and  here  he  dropped  his  anchors  in  one  of 
the  harbors  of  the  empire  of  Mexico. 


84 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  fleet  anchors. 


Arrival  of  the  canoes. 


Chapter  IV. 

Founding  a Colony. 

IT  was  a beautiful  afternoon  in  April  when 
the  fleet  sailed  majestically  into  the  Mexican 
bay.  Earth,  sea,  and  sky  smiled  serenely,  and 
all  the  elements  of  trouble  were  lulled  into  re- 
pose. As  the  ships  glided  over  the  smooth 
waters  to  their  sheltered  anchorage,  a scene,  as 
of  enchantment,  opened  around  the  voyagers. 
In  the  distance,  on  grassy  slopes,  and  in  the 
midst  of  luxuriant  groves,  the  villages  and  ru- 
ral dwellings  of  the  natives  were  thickly  scat- 
tered. The  shores  were  covered  with  an  eager 
multitude,  contemplating  with  wonder  and  awe 
the  sublime  spectacle  of  the  fleet. 

Hardly  were  the  anchors  dropped  ere  two 
canoes  shot  from  the  shore,  filled  with  natives. 
The  ship  in  which  Cortez  sailed  was  more  im- 
posing than  the  rest,  and  the  banner  of  Spain 
floated  proudly  from  its  topmast.  The  Mexi- 
cans steered  promptly  for  this  vessel,  and,  with 
the  most  confiding  frankness,  ascended  its  sides. 
Two  of  the  persons  in  these  boats  were  men  of 


Founding  a Colony. 


85 


The  two  chiefs.  ' The  legend.  The  presents. 

high  distinction  in  the  Mexican  empire.  As 
Marina  understood  their  language  perfectly,  and 
the  liberated  Spanish  captive  Aguilar  was  thor- 
oughly acquainted  with  the  language  of  the  Ta- 
bascans,  there  was  no  difficulty  in  the  inter- 
change of  ideas.  One  of  these  men  was  the 
governor  of  the  province  in  which  Cortez  had 
landed;  the  other  was  commander-in-chief  of 
all  the  military  forces  in  that  province.  It  has 
been  mentioned  that  Grijalva  had  previously 
landed  at  this  spot,  and  given  it  the  name  of 
San  Juan  de  Ulua.  The  Mexicans  had  thus 
some  knowledge  of  the  formidable  strangers 
who  were  invading  the  New  World,  and  in  va- 
rious ways  tidings,  for  now  the  quarter  of  a 
century,  had  been  reaching  their  ears  of  the  ap- 
palling power  of  this  new  race. 

Perhaps  to  this  fact  is  to  be  attributed  the 
general  and  discouraging  impression  which  then 
prevailed,  that  a fearful  calamity  which  nothing 
could  avert  was  impending  over  the  nation  ; 
that  it  was  the  decree  of  destiny  that  a strange 
race,  coming  from  the  rising  of  the  sun,  should 
overwhelm  and  desolate  their  country. 

The  two  chiefs  brought  Cortez  a present  of 
bread,  fruit,  fowls,  flowers,  and  golden  orna- 
ments. The  interview  was  conducted  by  the 


86 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  interview.  The  government  of  the  empire.  Cortez  lands. 

interchange  of  the  most  formal  social  ceremo- 
nies of  Mexico  and  of  Spain.  Cortez  invited  his 
guests  to  remain  and  dine.  The  communica- 
tion between  them  was  necessarily  slow,  as  Ma- 
rina interpreted  their  speech  to  Aguilar,  and 
Aguilar  to  Cortez.  The  Spanish  commander, 
however,  thus  ascertained  the  most  important 
facts  which  he  wished  to  know  respecting  the 
great  empire  of  Mexico.  He  learned  that  two 
hundred  miles  in  the  interior  was  situated  the 
capital  of  the  empire,  and  that  a monarch 
named  Montezuma,  beloved  and  revered  by  his 
subjects,  reigned  over  the  extended  realm.  The 
country  was  divided  into  provinces,  over  each 
of  which  a governor  presided.  The  province  in 
which  Cortez  had  landed  was  under  the  sway 
of  Governor  Teutile,  who  resided  about  twenty 
miles  in  the  interior. 

Cortez,  though  uninvited,  immediately,  with 
great  energy  and  boldness,  landed  his  whole 
force  upon  the  beach.  He  constructed  a forti- 
fied camp,  and  planted  his  heavy  artillery  upon 
the  surrounding  hillocks  to  sweep  all  the  ap- 
proaches. Characteristically  it  is  recorded  that, 
having  posted  their  artillery,  they  raised  an  al- 
tar, and  not  till  after  that  was  done  did  they 
erect  barracks  for  themselves.  The  friendly 


Founding  a Colony. 


87 


Scene  on  the  shore.  Visit  of  Governor  Teutile. 

natives  aided  the  Spaniards  in  building  huts, 
brought  them  presents  of  flowers  and  food,  and 
entered  into  an  active  traffic,  in  which  both  par- 
ties exulted  in  the  great  bargains  which  they 
made.  Thus  the  Mexicans  warmed  the  vipers 
who  were  fatally  to  sting  them. 

It  was  indeed  a novel  scene,  worthy  of  the 
pencil  of  the  painter,  which  that  beach  present- 
ed day  after  day.  Men,  women,  and  children, 
boys  and  girls,  in  all  the  variety  of  barbaric 
costume,  thronged  the  encampment.  Mexicans 
and  Spaniards  mingled  merrily  in  all  the  peace- 
ful and  joyful  confusion  of  a fair.  The  rumor 
of  the  strange  visitors  spread  far  and  wide,  and 
each  day  increasing  multitudes  were  assembled. 

The  intelligence  was  speedily  communicated 
to  Governor  Teutile.  With  a numerous  reti- 
nue, he  set  out  from  his  palace  to  visit  his  unin- 
vited guests,  and  to  ascertain  their  object  and 
purposes.  The  governor  entered  the  Spanish 
camp  accompanied  by  the  commander-in-chief 
of  all  the  provincial  forces.  Each  party  vied 
in  the  external  demonstrations  of  respect  and 
friendship.  The  eyes  of  the  Spaniards  glisten- 
ed with  avarice  as  Teutile  spread  before  Cortez 
many  valuable  ornaments  of  massive  silver  and 
gold,  wrought  in  exquisite  workmanship.  The 


88 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cortez’s  speech.  Teutile’s  uneasiness.  His  reply. 

sight  inflamed  them  with  more  intense  desires 
to  penetrate  a country  where  such  treasures 
could  he  obtained.  After  a splendid  repast 
given  by  the  Spaniards,  Cortez  said  to  his  vis- 
itors, 

“ I am  the  subject  of  Charles  V.,  the  most 
powerful  monarch  in  the  world.  My  sovereign 
has  heard  of  the  greatness  and  the  glory  of  Mon- 
tezuma, the  Emperor  of  Mexico.  I am  sent  to 
his  court  to  convey  the  respects  of  my  sover- 
eign, to  offer  suitable  presents,  and  to  confer 
with  him  upon  matters  of  great  moment.  It  is 
therefore  my  desire  to  proceed  immediately  to 
the  capital,  to  accomplish  the  purposes  of  my 
mission.” 

Teutile  could  not  conceal  the  uneasiness  with 
which  he  heard  this  avowal.  He  knew  that 
Montezuma  and  all  the  most  intelligent  men  of 
the  nation  contemplated  with  dread  the  power 
and  the  encroachments  of  the  Europeans,  now 
so  firmly  established  on  the  islands  of  the  Ca- 
ribbean Sea.  With  embarrassment  he  replied, 

“ I hear  with  pleasure  of  the  magnificence  of 
your  sovereign.  Our  monarch  is  not  less  glo- 
rious. No  earthly  king  can  surpass  him  in 
wealth  or  goodness.  You  have  been  but  a few 
days  in  these  realms,  and  yet  you  are  impatient 


Founding  a Colony. 


89 


Ambassadors  to  be  sent  to  Montezuma.  Picture  writing. 

to  be  admitted,  without  delay,  into  the  presence 
of  Montezuma.  Our  king  will  doubtless  hear 
with  pleasure  from  your  sovereign,  and  receive 
his  embassador  honorably.  But  it  will  be  first 
necessary  to  inform  him  of  your  arrival,  that 
he  may  communicate  to  you  his  royal  pleas- 
ure.” 

Cortez  was  exceedingly  annoyed  by  this  de- 
lay. Deeming  it,  however,  important  to  secure 
the  friendship  of  the  Mexicans,  he  consented  to 
wait  until  the  return  of  the  couriers  who  were 
immediately  to  be  sent  to  Montezuma.  The 
natives  were  not  acquainted  with  the  alphabet, 
but  they  had  in  use  a sort  of  picture  writing , 
delineating  upon  fine  cotton  cloth  pictures  of 
scenes  which  they  wished  to  represent.  Teu- 
tile  requested  that  his  painters  might  be  per- 
mitted to  take  a sketch  of  the  Spaniards  and 
their  equipage.  Consent  being  obtained,  the 
painters  commenced  their  work,  which  they  ex- 
ecuted with  remarkable  rapidity  and  skill.  The 
fleet  in  the  harbor,  the  encampment  upon  the 
shore,  the  muskets,  the  artillery,  the  horses,  all 
were  delineated  true  to  life.  They  were  so  ac- 
curate in  the  figures  and  portraits  of  Cortez  and 
his  leading  companions  that  the  Spaniards  im- 
mediately recognized  them. 


90 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Military  review.  The  manoeuvres. 

When  Cortez  observed  this  remarkable  skill, 
that  he  might  impress  Montezuma  the  more 
deeply  with  a sense  of  his  power,  he  ordered  his 
whole  force  to  be  assembled  for  a military  re- 
view. The  trumpets  pealed  forth  the  martial 
summons  which  the  well-drilled  bands  so  per- 
fectly understood.  The  troops  instantly  form- 
ed in  order  of  battle.  Infantry,  artillery,  cav- 
alry, all  were  at  their  posts.  The  most  intri- 
cate and  beautiful  manoeuvres  were  performed. 
Martial  music  contributed  its  thrilling  charms ; 
banners  floated  in  the  breeze  ; helmets,  cuirass- 
es, swords,  and  polished  muskets  gleamed  in 
the  rays  of  the  unclouded  sun.  Mounted  horse- 
men bounded  over  the  plain  in  the  terrific  charge, 
and  the  artillerymen,  with  rapid  evolutions, 
moved  to  and  fro,  dragging  over  the  sands  their 
lumbering  yet  mysterious  engines  of  destruc- 
tion, whose  awful  roar  and  terrific  power  the 
Mexicans  had  not  yet  witnessed.  It  was  a gor- 
geous spectacle  even  to  eyes  accustomed  to  such 
scenes.  The  Mexicans,  in  countless  thousands, 
gazed  upon  it  in  silent  amazement.  But  when, 
at  the  close,  Cortez  placed  his  cannon  in  bat- 
tery, and  ordered  a simultaneous  discharge, 
aiming  the  heavily-shotted  guns  into  the  dense 
forest,  the  bewilderment  of  the  poor  natives 


Founding  a Colony. 


91 


Terror  of  the  natives.  Departure  of  the  runners.  Police  regulations 

passed  away  into  unspeakable  terror.  They 
saw  the  lightning  flash,  they  heard  the  roar, 
louder  than  the  heaviest  thunders.  As  the  iron 
storm  was  shot  through  the  forest,  the  limbs  of 
the  gigantic  trees  came  crashing  to  the  ground. 
Dense  volumes  of  sulphurous  smoke  enveloped 
them.  Even  the  boldest  turned  pale,  and  the 
timid  shrieked  and  fled. 

Cortez  was  much  pleased  in  seeing  how  deep- 
ly he  had  impressed  his  visitors  with  a sense 
of  his  power.  The  painters  made  a very  accu- 
rate delineation  of  the  whole  scene  to  be  trans- 
mitted to  Montezuma.  They  then,  with  much 
ceremony,  departed. 

The  police  regulations  of  Mexico  were  in 
some  respects  in  advance  of  that  which  then 
prevailed  in  Europe.  For  the  rapid  transmis- 
sion of  intelligence  from  the  remotest  bounds  of 
the  empire  to  the  capital,  well-trained  runners 
were  posted,  at  suitable  stations,  all  along  the 
principal  roads.  Each  man  had  a short  stage, 
which  he  passed  over  with  great  rapidity,  and 
communicated  his  message,  verbal  or  written  in 
the  picture  language,  to  a fresh  runner.  Bur- 
dens and  governmental  officers  were  also  rapid- 
ly transmitted,  in  a sort  of  palanquin,  in  the 
same  way,  from  post  to  post,  by  relays  of  men. 


92 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Kindness  of  the  natives.  Arrival  of  the  embassy. 

A week  passed  while  Cortez  remained  impa- 
tiently in  his  encampment  awaiting  an  answer 
to  the  message  sent  to  Montezuma.  The  friend- 
ly natives,  in  the  mean  time,  supplied  the  Span- 
iards with  every  thing  they  could  need.  By 
the  command  of  the  governor,  Teutile,  more 
than  a thousand  huts  of  branches  of  trees  and 
of  cotton  matting  were  reared  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  encampment  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
Mexicans,  who,  without  recompense,  were  abun- 
dantly supplying  the  table  of  Cortez  and  of  his 
troops. 

On  the  eighth  day  an  embassy  arrived  at  the 
camp  from  the  Mexican  capital.  Two  nobles 
of  the  court,  accompanied  by  a retinue  of  a 
hundred  men  of  burden,  laden  with  magnificent 
gifts  from  Montezuma,  presented  themselves 
before  the  pavilion  of  Cortez.  The  embassa- 
dors saluted  the  Spanish  chieftain  with  the 
greatest  reverence,  bowing  before  him,  and  sur- 
rounding him  with  clouds  of  incense,  which 
arose  Ifom  waving  censers  borne  by  their  at- 
tendants. The  presents  which  they  brought, 
in  silver,  in  gold,  in  works  of  art,  utility,  and 
beauty,  excited  the  rapture  and  the  amazement 
of  the  Spaniards.  There  were  specimens  of 
workmanship  in  the  precious  metais  which  no 


INTERVIEW  BETWEEN'  CORTEZ  AND  THE  EMBASSADORS  OF  MONTEZUMA* 


Founding  a Colony. 


95 


Message  from  Montezuma.  Chagrin  of  Cortez. 

artists  in  Europe  could  rival.  A Spanish  hel- 
met which  had  been  sent  to  Montezuma  was 
returned  filled  with  grains  of  pure  gold.  These 
costly  gifts  were  opened  before  Cortez  in  lavish 
abundance,  and  they  gave  indications  of  opu- 
lence hitherto  undreamed  of.  After  they  had 
been  sufficiently  examined  and  admired,  one  of 
the  embassadors  very  courteously  said, 

“ Our  master  is  happy  to  send  these  tokens 
of  his  respect  to  the  King  of  Spain.  He  re- 
grets that  he  can  not  enjoy  an  interview  with 
the  Spaniards.  But  the  distance  of  his  capital 
is  too  great,  and  the  perils  of  the  journey  are 
too  imminent  to  allow  of  this  pleasure.  The 
strangers  are  therefore  requested  to  return  to 
their  own  homes  with  these  proofs  of  the  friend- 
ly feelings  of  Montezuma.” 

Cortez  was  much  chagrined.  He  earnestly, 
however,  renewed  his  application  for  permission 
to  visit  the  emperor.  But  the  embassadors, 
as  they  retired,  assured  him  that  another  appli- 
cation would  be  unavailing.  They,  however, 
took  a few  meagre  presents  of  shirts  and  toys, 
which  alone  remained  to  Cortez,  and  departed 
on  their  journey  of  two  hundred  miles,  with 
the  reiterated  and  still  more  earnest  application 
from  Cortez  for  permission  to  visit  the  emper- 


96 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Disaffection  in  the  camp.  Second  message  from  Montezuma. 

or.  It  was  now  evident  that  the  Mexicans  had 
received  instructions  from  the  court,  and  that 
all  were  anxious  that  the  Spaniards  should 
leave  the  country.  Though  the  natives  mani- 
fested no  hostility,  they  immediately  became 
cold  and  reserved,  and  ceased  to  supply  the 
camp  with  food.  With  the  Spaniards  the 
charm  of  novelty  was  over.  Insects  annoyed 
them.  They  were  blistered  by  the  rays  of  a 
meridian  sun,  reflected  from  the  burning  sands 
of  the  beach.  Sickness  entered  the  camp,  and 
thirty  died.  Disaffection  began  to  manifest  it- 
self, and  some  were  anxious  to  return  to  Cuba. 

But  the  treasures  which  had  been  received 
from  Montezuma,  so  rich  and  so  abundant,  in- 
spired Cortez  and  his  gold-loving  companions 
with  the  most  intense  desire  to  penetrate  an  em- 
pire of  so  much  opulence.  They,  however, 
waited  patiently  ten  days,  when  the  embassa- 
dors again  returned.  As  before,  they  came  lad- 
en with  truly  imperial  gifts.  The  gold  alone  of 
the  ornaments  which  they  brought  was  valued 
by  the  Spaniards  at  more  than  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  The  message  from  Montezuma  was, 
however,  still  more  peremptory  than  the  first. 
He  declared  that  he  could  not  permit  the  Span- 
iards to  approach  his  capital.  Cortez,  though 


Founding  a Colony. 


97 


The  Ave  Maria.  Curiosity  of  the  natives.  The  sermon. 

excessively  vexed,  endeavored  to  smother  the 
outward  expression  of  his  irritation.  He  gave 
the  embassadors  a courteous  response,  but,  turn- 
ing to  his  officers,  he  said, 

“ This  is  truly  a rich  and  a powerful  prince. 
Yet  it  shall  go  hard  but  we  will  one  day  pay 
him  a visit  in  his  capital.” 

“At  this  moment,”  says  Diaz,  “the  bell 
tolled  for  the  Ave  Maria,  and  all  of  us  fell  upon 
our  knees  before  the  holy  cross.  The  Mexican 
noblemen  being  very  inquisitive  to  know  the 
meaning  of  this,  Cortez  hinted  to  the  reverend 
father  Olmedo  the  propriety  of  a sermon,  such 
as  should  convey  to  them  the  truths  of  our  holy 
faith.  Father  Olmedo  accordingly  preached, 
like  an  excellent  theologian  which  he  was,  ex- 
plaining the  mysteries  of  the  cross,  at  the  sight 
of  which  the  evil  beings  they  worshiped  as  gods 
fled  away.  These  subjects,  and  much  more,  he 
dilated  upon.  It  was  perfectly  explained  to 
the  Mexicans  and  understood  by  them,  and 
they  promised  to  relate  all  they  had  seen  and 
heard  to  their  sovereign.  He  also  declared  to 
them  that  among  the  principal  objects  of  our 
mission  thither  were  those  of  putting  a stop  to 
human  sacrifices,  injustices,  and  idolatrous  wor- 
ship ; and  then,  presenting  them  with  an  image 
Gr 


98 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Presentation  of  the  crucifix.  Desertion  of  the  huts.  The  mutiny. 

of  our  Holy  Virgin,  with  her  son  in  her  arms, 
he  desired  them  to  take  it  with  them,  to  vene- 
rate it,  and  to  plant  crosses  similar  to  that  be- 
fore them  in  their  temples.” 

The  embassadors  again  retired  with  dignity 
and  with  courtesy,  yet  with  reserve  indicative 
of  deep  displeasure  at  the  pertinacity  of  the 
Spaniards.  That  night  every  hut  of  the  natives 
was  abandoned.  When  the  morning  sun  arose, 
silence  and  solitude  reigned  upon  the  spot  which 
had  so  recently  witnessed  the  life  and  the  clam- 
or of  an  innumerable  multitude.  Cortez  and 
his  companions  were  left  alone.  The  long  hours 
of  the  tropical  day  passed  slowly,  and  no  native 
approached  the  encampment.  No  food  was  to 
be  obtained.  Not  only  was  all  friendly  inter- 
course thus  suspended,  but  the  Spaniards  had 
much  reason  to  fear  that  preparations  were  mak- 
ing for  an  assault.  The  murmuring  in  the  camp 
increased.  Two  parties  were  formed : one  party 
were  in  favor  of  returning  to  Cuba,  affirming 
that  it  was  madness  to  think  of  the  subjugation 
by  force  of  arms  of  so  mighty  an  empire  with 
so  feeble  an  armament.  One  of  the  generals, 
Diego  de  Ordaz,  was  deputed  by  the  disaffected 
to  communicate  these  sentiments  to  Cortez,  and 
to  assure  him  that  it  was  the  general  voice  of 
the  army. 


Founding  a Colony. 


99 


Shrewdness.  The  mutineers  outwitted.  Success  of  the  scheme. 

The  shrewdness  of  this  extraordinary  man 
was  peculiarly  conspicuous  in  this  crisis.  He 
promptly,  and  apparently  with  cordiality,  as- 
sented to  their  views,  and  began  to  make  ar- 
rangements to  relinquish  the  enterprise.  Orders 
were  issued  to  commence  the  re-embarkation. 

While  thus  dissimulating,  he  roused  his 
friends  to  effort,  and  secretly  employed  all  his 
powers  to  excite  a mutiny  in  the  camp  against 
a return.  Every  motive  was  plied  to  stimulate 
the  bold  and  the  avaricious  to  persevere  in  an 
undertaking  where  glory  and  wealth  held  out 
such  attractions.  His  emissaries  were  com- 
pletely successful.  The  whole  camp  was  in  a 
ferment.  Before  the  sun  went  down,  a large 
party  of  the  soldiers  surrounded  his  tent,  as  in 
open  mutiny.  They  declared  that,  having  en- 
tered upon  a majestic  enterprise,  it  was  pol- 
troonery to  abandon  it  upon  the  first  aspect  of 
danger ; that  they  were  determined  to  perse- 
vere, and  that,  if  Cortez  wished  to  return  with 
the  cowards  to  Cuba,  they  would  instantly 
choose  another  general  to  guide  them  in  the 
career  of  glory  upon  which  they  had  entered. 

Cortez  was  delighted  with  the  success  of  his 
stratagem.  He,  however,  affected  surprise,  and 
declared  that  his  orders  for  re-embarking  were 


100 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Enthusiasm.  Council  elected  for  the  new  colony. 

issued  from  the  persuasion  that  the  troops  wish- 
ed to  return  ; that,  to  gratify  them,  he  had  been 
willing  to  sacrifice  his  own  private  judgment. 
He  assured  the  mutineers  that  it  afforded  him 
the  highest  gratification  to  find  that  they  were 
true  Castilians,  with  minds  elevated  to  the  ac- 
complishment of  heroic  deeds.  He  affirmed 
that  before  such  strong  arms  and  bold  hearts 
all  peril  would  vanish.  The  applause  with 
which  this  speech  was  greeted  was  so  long  and 
enthusiastic  that  even  the  murmurers  were  soon 
induced  to  join  the  acclamations.  Thus  adroit- 
ly Cortez  again  enthroned  himself  as  the  undis- 
puted chieftain  of  an  enthusiastic  band. 

He  decided  immediately  to  establish  a settle- 
ment on  the  sea-coast  as  the  nucleus  of  a col- 
ony. From  that  point  as  the  basis  of  opera- 
tions, he  would,  with  the  terrors  of  artillery  and 
cavalry,  boldly  penetrate  the  interior.  He  as- 
sembled the  principal  officers  of  the  army,  and 
by  their  suffrages  elected  the  magistrates  and  a 
council  for  the  new  colony.  He  skillfully  so 
arranged  it  that  all  the  magistrates  chosen  were 
his  warm  partisans. 

The  council  assembled  for  the  organization 
of  the  government.  As  soon  as  the  assembly 
was  convened,  Cortez  asked  permission  to  enter 


Founding  a Colony. 


101 


Appearance  of  Cortez  before  the  assembly.  The  address. 

it.  Bowing  with  the  most  profound  respect 
before  the  new  government  thus  organized,  that 
he  might  set  an  example  of  the  most  humble 
and  submissive  obedience,  he  addressed  them 
in  the  following  terms  : 

“ By  the  establishment  of  the  colony  and  the 
organization  of  the  colonial  government,  this 
august  tribunal  is  henceforth  invested  with  su- 
preme jurisdiction,  and  is  clothed  with  the  au- 
thority, and  represents  the  person  of  the  sover- 
eign. I accordingly  present  myself  before  you 
with  the  same  dutiful  fidelity  as  if  I were  ad- 
dressing my  royal  master.  The  safety  of  this 
colony,  threatened  by  the  hostility  of  a mighty 
empire,  depends  upon  the  subordination  and 
discipline  preserved  among  the  troops.  But 
my  right  to  command  is  derived  from  a com- 
mission granted  by  the  Governor  of  Cuba.  As 
that  commission  has  been  long  since  revoked, 
my  right  to  command  may  well  be  questioned. 
It  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  in  the  present 
condition  of  affairs,  that  the  commander-in-chief 
should  not  act  upon  a dubious  title.  There  is 
now  required  the  most  implicit  obedience  to  or- 
ders, and  the  army  can  not  act  with  efficiency 
if  it  has  any  occasion  to  dispute  the  powers  of 
its  general. 


102 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cortez  lays  down  his  commission.  He  is  induced  to  take  it  up  again. 

“ Moved  by  these  considerations,  I now  re- 
sign into  your  hands,  as  the  representatives  of 
the  sovereign,  all  my  authority.  As  you  alone 
have  the  right  to  choose,  and  the  power  to  con- 
fer full  jurisdiction,  upon  you  it  devolves  to 
choose  some  one,  in  the  king’s  name,  to  guide 
the  army  in  its  future  operations.  For  my  own 
part,  such  is  my  zeal  in  the  service  in  which 
we  are  engaged,  that  I would  most  cheerfully 
take  up  a pike  with  the  same  hand  which  lays 
down  the  general’s  truncheon,  and  convince  my 
fellow-soldiers  that,  though  accustomed  to  com- 
mand, I have  not  forgotten  how  to  obey.” 

Thus  saying,  he  laid  his  commission  from 
Velasquez  upon  the  table,  and  after  kissing  his 
truncheon,  delivered  it  to  the  chief  magistrate 
and  withdrew.  This  was  consummate  acting. 
The  succeeding  steps  were  all  previously  ar- 
ranged. He  was  immediately  elected,  by  unan- 
imous suffrage,  chief  justice  of  the  colony,  and 
captain  general  of  the  army.  His  commission 
was  ordered  to  be  made  out  in  the  name  of 
Charles  V.  of  Spain,  and  was  to  continue  in 
force  until  the  royal  pleasure  should  be  farther 
known.  The  troops  were  immediately  assem- 
bled and  informed  of  the  resolve.  They  rati- 
fied it  with  unbounded  applause.  The  air  re- 


Founding  a Colony. 


103 


Remonstrance.  Mode  of  reasoning.  Envoys  of  Zempoalla. 

sounded  with  acclamations,  and  all  vowed  obe- 
dience, even  to  death,  to  the  authority  of  Cor- 
tez. Thus  adroitly  this  bold  adventurer  shook 
off  his  dependence  upon  Velasquez,  and  as- 
sumed the  dignity  of  an  independent  governor, 
responsible  only  to  his  sovereign. 

There  were  a few  adherents  of  Velasquez  who 
remonstrated  against  these  unprecedented  meas- 
ures. Cortez,  with  characteristic  energy,  seized 
them  and  placed  them  in  imprisonment,  loaded 
with  chains,  on  board  one  of  the  ships.  This 
rigor  overawed  and  silenced  the  rest.  Cortez, 
however,  soon  succeeded,  by  flattering  atten- 
tions and  by  gifts,  in  securing  a cordial  recon- 
ciliation with  his  opponents.  He  was  now 
strong  in  undisputed  authority. 

In  the  midst  of  these  events,  one  day  five  In- 
dians of  rank  came,  in  rather  a mysterious  man- 
ner, to  the  camp,  and  solicited  an  interview 
with  Cortez.  They  represented  themselves  as 
envoys  from  the  chief  of  Zempoalla,  a large 
town  at  no  great  distance.  This  chief  reigned 
over  the  powerful  nation  of  Totonacs.  His  peo- 
ple had  been  conquered  by  Montezuma,  and  an- 
nexed to  the  Mexican  empire.  They  were  rest- 
ive under  the  yoke,  and  would  gladly  avail 
themselves  of  an  alliance  with  the  Spaniards  to 
regain  their  independence. 


104 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Prospect  of  civil  war.  Resolve  to  establish  a colony  at  Quiabislaa 

Cortez  listened  eagerly  to  this  statement.  It 
presented  just  the  opportunity  which  he  desired. 
He  saw  at  once  that  by  exciting  civil  war,  and 
arraying  one  portion  of  the  empire  against  an- 
other, he  might  accomplish  his  ends.  He  also 
judged  that,  in  an  empire  so  vast,  there  must 
be  other  provinces  where  disaffection  could  be 
excited.  He  therefore  received  these  envoys 
most  graciously,  and  promised  very  soon  to  visit 
their  metropolis. 

The  spot  where  Cortez  had  landed  was  not  a 
good  location  for  the  establishment  of  a city. 
A party  was  sent  along  the  coast  to  seek  a bet- 
ter harbor  for  the  ships  and  a more  eligible  site 
for  the  city.  At  the  expiration  of  twelve  days 
the  party  returned,  having  discovered  a fine  har- 
bor and  fertile  soil  at  a little  village  called  Qui- 
abislan,  about  forty  miles  to  the  northward. 
This  village  was  fortunately  but  a few  miles 
distant  from  Zempoalla.  Most  of  the  heavy 
guns  were  re-embarked,  and  the  fleet  was  or- 
dered to  coast  along  the  shore  to  the  appointed 
rendezvous  at  Quiabislan.  Then,  heading  his 
troops,  he  set  out  on  a bold  march  across  the 
country  to  meet  his  fleet,  arranging  to  pass 
through  Zempoalla  by  the  way. 

The  beauty  of  the  country  through  which 


Founding  a Colony. 


107 


Beauties  of  the  country,  and  refinement  of  the  inhabitants. 

they  marched  entranced  the  hearts  even  of  these 
stern  warriors.  They  were  never  weary  of  ex- 
pressing their  delight  in  view  of  the  terrestrial 
paradise  which  they  had  discovered.  When 
the  Spaniards  had  arrived  within  three  miles  of 
Zempoalla,  a delegation  met  them  from  the  city, 
accompanied  by  a vast  concourse  of  men  and 
women.  The  adventurers  were  greeted  with 
courteous  words,  and  gifts  of  gold,  and  fruits, 
and  flowers.  The  natives  possessed  many  at- 
tractions of  person,  and  their  frank  and  friendly 
manners  were  peculiarly  winning.  A singular 
degree  of  mental  refinement  was  to  be  seen  in 
their  passionate  love  of  flowers,  with  which 
they  adorned  their  persons,  and  which  bloomed, 
in  the  utmost  profusion,  around  their  dwellings. 
Cortez  and  his  steed  were  almost  covered  with 
wreaths  and  garlands  of  roses,  woven  by  the 
fair  hands  of  his  newly-found  friends. 

The  Spaniards  were  quite  amazed  in  enter- 
ing the  city  of  Zempoalla.  They  found  a beau- 
tiful town,  with  streets  perfectly  clean — for  they 
had  no  beasts  of  burden — lined  with  spacious 
stone  houses,  and  shaded  with  ornamental  trees. 
These  paved  streets  were  kept  almost  as  free 
from  litter  as  a parlor  floor,  and  they  were 
thronged  with,  apparently,  a refined  and  happy 


108 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Reception  at  Zempoalla.  Cortez  offers  his  services. 

people.  A tropical  sun,  whose  rays  were  tem- 
pered by  the  ocean  breeze,  fell  warmly  upon 
them  during  all  the  months  of  the  year.  Soil 
of  astonishing  fertility  supplied  them  abundant- 
ly with  food,  while  a genial  climate  invited 
them  to  indulgence  and  repose.  At  first  glance 
it  would  seem  that  the  doom  of  Adam’s  fall  had 
not  yet  reached  the  dwellings  of  Zempoalla.  A 
few  hours’  residence  in  the  city,  however,  con- 
clusively proved  that  here,  as  elsewhere,  man 
is  born  to  mourn. 

As  Cortez  entered  the  gates  of  the  city,  he 
was  met  and  welcomed  with  great  pomp  by  the 
cacique  of  Zempoalla.  He  was  excessively 
corpulent,  but  very  polite  and  highly  polished 
in  his  manners.  Marina  and  Aguilar  acted  as 
interpreters. 

“I  am  come,”  said  Cortez,  “from  the  ends 
of  the  earth.  I serve  a monarch  who  is  pow- 
erful, and  whose  goodness  equals  his  power. 
He  has  sent  me  hither,  that  I may  give  some 
account  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  part  of  the 
world.  He  has  commanded  me  to  do  good  to 
all  men,  and  particularly  to  aid  the  oppressed 
and  to  punish  their  oppressors.  To  you,  Lord 
of  Zempoalla,  I offer  my  services.  Whatever 
you  may  command,  I and  my  troops  will  cheer- 
fully perform.” 


Founding  a Colony. 


109 


Wrongs  of  the  Totonacs.  Help  implored. 

The  cacique  of  Zempoalla  replied, 

“ Gracious  stranger,  I can  not  sufficiently 
commend  your  benevolence,  and  none  can  stand 
more  in  need  of  it.  You  see  before  you  a man 
wearied  out  with  unmerited  wrongs.  I and 
my  people  are  crushed  and  trodden  under  foot 
by  the  most  tyrannical  power  upon  earth.  We 
were  once  an  independent  and  a happy  people, 
but  the  prosperity  of  the  Totonacs  is  now  de- 
stroyed. The  power  of  our  nobles  is  gone. 
We  are  robbed  of  the  produce  of  our  fields. 
Our  sons  are  torn  from  us  for  sacrifices,  and 
our  daughters  for  slaves. 

“ The  Mexicans  are  our  conquerors  and  op- 
pressors. They  heap  these  calamities  upon  us, 
robbing  us  of  our  substance,  and  despoiling  us 
of  our  children.  In  the  pride  of  aggression, 
they  have  marched  from  conquest  to  conquest, 
till  they  gather  tribute  from  every  land.  And 
now,  mighty  warrior,  we  implore  of  thy  strength 
and  kindness  that  thou  wouldst  enable  us  to  re- 
sist these  tyrants,  and  deliver  us  from  their  ex- 
actions.” 

Cortez  warily  replied  : “I  will  gladly  aid 
you,  but  let  us  not  be  rash.  I will  dwell  with 
you  a while,  and  whenever  I shall  see  a suitable 
occasion  to  punish  your  enemies  and  to  relieve 


110 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Applause  of  the  natives.  Erection  of  fortifications. 

you  from  their  impositions,  you  may  rely  upon 
my  aid  to  humble  their  pride  and  power.” 

The  rugged  army  of  Cortez  then  advanced 
through  the  streets  of  Zempoalla  to  the  spacious 
court-yard  of  the  temple  assigned  for  their  ac- 
commodation. As  in  solid  column,  with  float- 
ing banners  and  bugle  notes,  they  paraded  the 
streets,  headed  by  the  cavalry  of  sixteen  horses, 
animals  the  Totonacs  had  never  seen  before, 
and  followed  by  the  lumbering  artillery  — in- 
struments, in  the  eyes  of  the  Totonacs,  of  super- 
natural power — which,  with  thunder  roar,  sped 
lightning  bolts,  the  natives  gazed  with  admira- 
tion upon  the  imposing  spectacle,  and  the  air 
resounded  with  their  applause. 

The  next  morning  Cortez,  with  most  of  his 
army,  continued  his  march  some  twelve  miles 
farther  to  meet  his  fleet  at  Quiabislan.  The 
cacique  hospitably  sent  with  him  four  hundred 
men  of  burden  to  convey  his  baggage.  The 
spot  which  had  been  selected  as  the  site  of  the 
new  town,  which  was  to  be  the  capital  of  the 
Spanish  colony,  met  the  approbation  of  Cortez. 
He  immediately  commenced  erecting  huts  and 
surrounding  the  town  with  fortifications  of  suf- 
ficient strength  to  resist  any  assault  from  the 
natives.  Every  man  in  the  army,  the  officers 


Founding  a Colony. 


Ill 


Building  the  town.  The  lords  from  Montezuma. 

as  well  as  the  soldiers,  engaged  laboriously  in 
this  work.  No  one  toiled  in  this  enterprise 
with  more  patient  endurance  than  the  extraor- 
dinary commander  of  this  extraordinary  band. 
The  Totonacs  from  Zempoalla  and  Quiabislan, 
encouraged  by  their  caciques,  also  lent  their  aid 
to  the  enterprise  with  hearty  good  will.  Thou- 
sands of  hands  were  thus  employed  ; provisions 
flowed  into  the  camp  in  all  abundance,  and  the 
works  proceeded  with  great  rapidity.  The  vi- 
cinity was  densely  populated,  and  large  num- 
bers of  the  listless  natives,  women  and  children, 
were  attracted  to  the  spot  to  witness  the  busy 
scene,  so  novel  and  so  exciting. 

But  such  proceedings  could  not  escape  the 
vigilance  of  the  officers  of  Montezuma.  In  the 
midst  of  this  state  of  things,  suddenly  one  day 
a strange  commotion  was  witnessed  in  the 
crowd,  and  the  natives,  both  people  and  chiefs, 
gave  indications  of  great  terror.  Five  strangers 
appeared — tall,  imposing  men,  with  bouquets 
of  flowers  in  their  hands,  and  followed  by  obse- 
quious attendants.  Haughtily  these  strangers 
passed  through  the  place,  looking  sternly  upon 
the  Spaniards,  without  deigning  to  address  them 
either  by  a word  or  a gesture.  They  were  lords 
from  the  court  of  Montezuma.  Their  power 


112 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Consternation  of  the  Totonacs.  The  penalty.  Cortez’s  orders. 

was  invincible  and  terrible.  They  had  wit- 
nessed with  their  own  eyes  these  rebellious  in- 
dications of  the  subjects  of  Mexico.  The  chiefs 
of  the  Totonacs  turned  pale  with  consternation. 
All  this  was  explained  to  Cortez  by  Marina. 

The  Totonac  chiefs  were  imperiously  sum> 
moned  to  appear  immediately  before  the  lords 
of  Montezuma.  Like  terrified  children  they 
obeyed.  Soon  they  returned,  trembling,  to 
Cortez,  and  informed  him  that  the  Mexican 
lords  were  indignant  at  the  support  which  they 
had  afforded  the  Spaniards,  contrary  to  the  ex- 
press will  of  their  emperor,  and  that  they  de- 
manded as  the  penalty  twenty  young  men  and 
twenty  young  women  of  the  Totonacs,  to  be 
offered  in  sacrifice  to  their  gods. 

Cortez  assumed  an  air  of  indignation  and  of 
authority  as  he  eagerly  availed  himself  of  this 
opportunity  of  promoting  an  open  rupture  be- 
tween the  Totonacs  and  the  Mexicans.  He 
declared  that  he  would  never  consent  to  any 
such  abominable  practices  of  heathenism.  He 
haughtily  commanded  the  Totonac  chiefs  im- 
mediately to  arrest  the  lords  of  Montezuma, 
and  throw  them  into  prison.  The  poor  chiefs 
were  appalled  beyond  measure  at  the  very  idea 
of  an  act  so  irrevocable  and  so  unpardonable. 


Founding  a Colony. 


113 


Power  of  Montezuma.  The  Mexican  lords  arrested. 

They  had  long  been  accustomed  to  consider 
Montezuma  as  possessing  power  which  nothing 
on  earth  could  resist.  Montezuma  swayed  the 
sceptre  of  a Caesar,  and  bold  indeed  must  he  be 
who  would  venture  to  brave  his  wrath. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  they  had  already  of- 
fended beyond  hope  of  pardon  by  entertaining 
the  intruders  contrary  to  the  positive  command 
of  their  sovereign.  Twenty  of  their  sons  and 
daughters  were  to  bleed  upon  the  altars  of  sac- 
rifice. Their  only  hope  was  now  in  Cortez. 
Should  he  abandon  them,  they  were  ruined 
hopelessly.  They  deemed  it  possible  that,  with 
the  thunder  and  the  lightning  at  his  command, 
he  might  be  able  to  set  at  defiance  that  mighty 
Mexican  power  which  had  hitherto  been  found 
invincible. 

In  this  dreadful  dilemma,  they  yielded  to  the 
inexorable  demand  of  Cortez,  and  tremblingly 
arrested  the  Mexican  lords.  The  Bubicon  was 
now  passed.  The  Totonacs  were  from  that 
moment  the  abject  slaves  of  Cortez.  Their 
only  protection  from  the  most  awful  doom  was 
in  his  strong  arm,  and  their  persons,  their  prop- 
erty, their  all,  were  entirely  at  his  disposal. 

Cortez  then  condescended  to  perform  a deed 
of  cunning  and  of  perfidy  which  has  left  a stain 
H 


114 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Perfidy  of  Cortez.  The  lords  are  liberated. 

upon  his  character  which  never  can  be  washed 
away.  In  the  night  he  ordered  one  of  his  peo- 
ple secretly  to  assist  two  of  the  Mexican  lords 
in  their  escape.  They  were  privately  brought 
into  his  presence.  With  guileful  words,  which 
ought  to  have  blistered  his  tongue,  he  declared 
that  they,  by  their  arrest,  had  received  insult 
and  outrage  from  the  Totonacs,  which  he  sin- 
cerely regretted,  and  would  gladly  have  pre- 
vented. He  assured  them  of  the  great  pleas- 
ure which  it  afforded  him  to  aid  them  in  their 
escape.  He  promised  to  do  every  thing  in  his 
power  to  secure  the  release  of  the  others,  and 
wished  them  to  return  to  the  court  of  their 
monarch,  and  assure  him  of  the  friendly  spirit 
of  the  Spaniards,  of  which  this  act  was  to  be  a 
conspicuous  proof.  He  then  sent  six  strong 
rowers  to  convey  them  secretly  in  a boat  be- 
yond the  reach  of  pursuit.  The  next  morning, 
in  the  same  guileful  way,  all  the  rest  were  lib- 
erated, and  sent  with  a similar  message  to  the 
court  of  Montezuma. 

Such  was  the  treachery  with  which  Cortez 
rewarded  his  faithful  allies.  With  perfidy  so 
detestable,  he  endeavored  to  foment  civil  dis- 
cord in  the  empire  of  Montezuma,  pretending  to 
be  himself  the  friend  of  each  of  the  parties 


Founding  a Colony. 


115 


Villa  Rica  de  la  Vera  Cruz.  Embassy  from  Montezuma. 

whose  hostility  he  had  excited,  and  ready  to 
espouse  either  side  which  might  appear  most 
available  for  the  promotion  of  his  ambitious 
plans.  History  has  no  language  too  severe  to 
condemn  an  action  so  utterly  abominable.  It 
is  treason  to  virtue  to  speak  mildly  of  atrocious 
crime. 

Cortez  named  the  infant  city  he  was  erecting 
The  Rich  City  of  the  True  Cross,  Villa  Rica 
de  la  Vera  Cruz.  44  The  two  principles  of  av- 
arice and  enthusiasm,”  says  Robertson,  44  which 
prompted  the  Spaniards  in  all  their  enterprises 
in  the  New  World,  seem  to  have  concurred  in 
suggesting  the  name  which  Cortez  bestowed  on 
his  infant  settlement.”  This  city  was  a few 
miles  north  of  the  present  city  of  Yera  Cruz. 

While  Cortez  was  busily  employed  in  laying 
the  foundations  of  his  colony,  and  gathering 
around  him  native  aid  in  preparation  for  a march 
into  the  interior,  another  embassy  from  the  court 
of  Montezuma  appeared  in  the  busy  streets  of 
Yera  Cruz.  The  Mexican  emperor,  alarmed  by 
the  tidings  he  received  of  the  persistent  bold- 
ness of  the  Spaniards,  and  of  their  appalling 
and  supernatural  power,  deemed  it  wise  to  ac- 
cept the  courtesy  which  had  been  offered  him 
in  the  liberation  of  his  imprisoned  lords,  and  to 


116  Hernando  Cortez. 

He  adopts  a conciliatory  policy.  Amazement  of  the  Totonacs. 

adopt  a conciliatory  policy.  The  Totonacs 
were  amazed  by  this  evidence  that  even  the 
mighty  Montezuma  was  overawed  by  the  pow- 
er of  the  Spaniards.  This  greatly  increased 
their  veneration  for  their  European  allies. 


Exultation  of  the  Totonacs. 


The  eight  maidens  and  their  baptism. 


Chapter  Y. 

The  Tlascalans  Subjugated. 
HE  Totonacs  were  now  exceedingly  exult- 


ant. They  were  unwearied  in  extolling 
their  allies,  and  in  proclaiming  their  future  in- 
dependence of  their  Mexican  conquerors.  They 
urged  other  neighboring  provinces  to  join  them, 
and  become  the  vassals  of  the  omnipotent  Span- 
iards. They  raised  a strong  army,  which  they 
placed  under  the  command  of  Cortez  to  obey 
his  bidding.  To  strengthen  the  bonds  of  alli- 
ance, the  cacique  of  Zempoalla  selected  eight  of 
the  most  beautiful  maidens  of  his  country,  all 
of  the  first  families,  to  be  united  in  marriage  to 
the  Spanish  generals.  Cortez  courteously  but 
decisively  informed  the  chief  that,  before  such 
union  could  be  consummated,  these  maidens 
must  all  renounce  idolatry  and  be  baptized. 
The  Totonacs,  without  much  apparent  reluct- 
ance, yielded.  Emboldened  by  this  success, 
Cortez  now  made  very  strenuous  efforts  to 
induce  the  chief  and  all  the  tribe  to  abandon 


118 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Endeavors  to  induce  the  acceptance  of  Christianity.  The  result. 

their  idols  and  the  cruel  rites  of  heathenism, 
and  to  accept  in  their  stead  the  symbols  of 
Christianity. 

But  upon  this  point  the  cacique  was  inflex- 
ible. “We  honor  your  friendship,  noble  Cor- 
tez,” he  firmly  replied,  “ and  we  are  grateful  to 
you  for  the  generous  interest  you  take  in  our 
welfare ; but  the  gods  are  greater  than  man. 
Earthly  benefactors  are  but  the  ministers  of 
their  favor.  Gratitude  to  the  gods  is  our  first 
duty.  Health,  plenty,  all  blessings  are  from 
their  bounty.  We  dread  their  anger  more  than 
the  displeasure  of  the  mightiest  of  men.  Should 
we  offend  them,  inevitable  destruction  will  over- 
whelm me  and  my  people.” 

Cortez  was  provoked  by  such  obstinacy.  He 
was  incapable  of  appreciating  the  nobility  of 
these  sentiments,  and  of  perceiving  that  such 
minds  needed  but  instruction  to  lead  them  to 
reverence  the  true  God.  The  sincere  idolater, 
who  worships  according  to  the  little  knowledge 
he  has,  is  immeasurably  elevated,  in  dignity  of 
character,  above  the  mere  nominal  Christian, 
who  knows  the  true  God,  and  yet  disregards 
him.  But  Cortez,  inspired  by  fanatic  zeal, 
treated  these  men,  who  deserved  tender  consid- 
eration, with  insult  and  contempt.  He  resolved 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  121 


Fanaticism  of  the  Spaniards.  Destruction  of  the  idols. 

recklessly  to  demolish  their  idols,  and  to  com- 
pel the  Totonacs  to  receive  in  exchange  the 
images  of  Rome. 

He  immediately  assembled  his  soldiers,  and 
thus  addressed  them  : “ Soldiers  ! We  are 
Spaniards.  We  inherit  from  our  ancestors  the 
love  of  our  holy  faith.  Let  us  prostrate  these 
vile  images.  Let  us  plant  the  cross,  and  call 
the  heathen  to  the  feet  of  that  holy  symbol. 
Heaven  will  never  smile  upon  our  enterprise  if 
we  countenance  the  atrocities  of  heathenism. 
For  my  part,  I am  resolved  that  these  pagan 
idols  shall  be  destroyed  this  very  hour,  even  if 
it  cost  me  my  life.” 

The  fanaticism  of  the  Spaniards  was  now  ef- 
fectually roused.  In  solid  column,  a strong  di- 
vision marched  toward  one  of  the  most  impos- 
ing of  the  Totonac  temples.  The  alarm  spread 
wildly  through  the  thronged  streets  of  Zempo- 
alla.  The  whole  population  seized  their  arms 
to  defend  their  gods.  A scene  of  fearful  con- 
fusion ensued.  Firmly  the  inflexible  Spaniards 
strode  on.  Fifty  men  ascended  the  winding 
stairs  to  the  summit  of  the  pyramidal  temple, 
tore  down  the  massive  wooden  idols,  and  tum- 
bled them  into  the  streets.  They  then  collect- 
ed the  mutilated  fragments,  and  burned  them  to 


122 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Dismay  of  the  Indians.  Celebration  of  mass.  The  harangue. 

ashes.  The  Indians  looked  on  in  dismay,  with 
tears  and  groans. 

The  heathen  temple  was  then  emptied,  swept, 
and  garnished.  The  Totonac  chiefs,  and  the 
priests  clotted  with  the  blood  of  their  brutal 
sacrifices,  now  docile  as  children,  obeyed  obse- 
quiously the  demands  of  the  haughty  reformer. 
He  ordered  these  unenlightened  pagan  priests 
to  have  their  heads  shorn,  to  be  dressed  in  the 
white  robes  of  the  Catholic  priesthood,  and, 
with  lighted  candles  in  their  hands,  they  were 
constrained  to  assist  in  performing  the  rites  of 
the  papal  Church.  An  image  of  the  Virgin  was 
installed  in  the  shrine  which  had  been  polluted 
by  all  the  horrid  orgies  of  pagan  abominations. 
Mass  was  celebrated  upon  the  altar  where  hu- 
man hearts,  gory  and  quivering,  had  for  ages 
been  offered  in  awful  sacrifice.  The  prayers 
and  the  chants  of  Christianity  ascended  from 
the  spot  where  idolaters  had  slain  their  victims 
and  implored  vengeance  upon  their  foes. 

Cortez  then  himself  earnestly  and  eloquently 
harangued  the  people,  assuring  them  that  hence- 
forth the  Spaniards  and  the  Totonacs  were 
Christian  brothers,  and  that  under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  Holy  Virgin,  the  mother  of  Christ, 
they  would  both  certainly  be  blessed. 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  123 


The  change.  Emotions  of  the  natives.  They  accept  the  new  idols. 

Violent  as  were  these  deeds,  it  is  undeniable 
that  they  ushered  in  a blessed  change.  The 
very  lowest  and  most  corrupt  form  of  Christian- 
ity  is  infinitely  superior  to  the  most  refined  cre- 
ations of  paganism.  The  natives  gradually  re- 
covered from  their  terror.  They  gazed  with 
admiration  upon  the  pageant  of  the  mass,  with 
its  gorgeous  accompaniments  of  incense,  music, 
embroidered  robes,  and  solemn  processions. 
The  Spanish  historians  who  witnessed  the 
scene  record  that  many  of  the  Indians  were  so 
overcome  with  pious  emotion,  in  thus  behold- 
ing, for  the  first  time,  the  mysteries  of  Chris- 
tianity, that  they  freely  wept.  No  more  resist- 
ance was  made.  The  Totonacs,  thus  Easily 
converted,  apparently  with  cheerfulness  ex- 
changed the  bloody  and  hideous  idols  of  Mex- 
ico for  the  more  attractive  and  more  merciful 
idols  of  Rome.  Let  not  this  remark  be  attrib- 
uted to  want  of  candor;  for  no  one  can  deny 
that,  to  these  uninstructed  natives,  it  was  mere- 
ly an  exchange  of  idols. 

Cortez  had  now  been  in  Mexico  nearly  three 
months.  Every  moment  had  been  occupied  in 
the  accomplishment  of  objects  which  he  deem- 
ed of  fundamental  importance.  He  was,  how- 
ever, evidently  somewhat  embarrassed  respect- 


124 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cortez’s  embarrassment  respecting  his  commission.  The  letter. 

ing  the  validity  of  his  title  to  command.  It 
was  at  least  doubtful  whether  the  king  would 
recognize  the  authority  of  a colony  established 
in  so  novel  a manner.  Cortez  also  well  knew 
that  Velasquez  would  apply  to  his  sovereign  for 
redress  for  the  injuries  which  he  had  received. 
The  danger  was  by  no  means  small  that,  by  the 
command  of  the  king,  Cortez  would  be  degraded 
and  punished  as  a usurper  of  power. 

Before  commencing  his  march  into  the  inte- 
rior, he  deemed  it  of  the  utmost  importance  to 
take  every  possible  precaution  against  this  dan- 
ger. He  influenced  the  magistrates  of  Vera 
Cruz  to  address  a letter  to  the  Spanish  sover- 
eign in  justification  of  the  course  which  had 
been  pursued,  and  to  implore  the  king  to  ratify 
what  had  been  done  in  his  name,  and  to  con- 
firm Cortez  in  the  supreme  command.  Cortez 
also  wrote  himself  a long  and  labored  letter  to 
the  Emperor  Charles  V.,  full  of  protestations 
of  loyalty  and  of  zeal  for  the  wealth  and  the  re- 
nown of  the  Spanish  court.  To  add  weight  to 
his  letter,  it  was  accompanied  by  as  rich  treas- 
ures from  the  New  World  as  he  had  thus  far 
been  able  to  accumulate.  Such  was  the  as- 
cendency which  this  extraordinary  man  had  at- 
tained over  the  minds  of  his  associates,  and  so 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  125 


Anticipations  of  wealth.  Presents.  Embassadors  sent  to  the  king. 

confident  were  they  in  their  anticipations  of 
boundless  wealth,  that  all  the  soldiers,  without 
a murmur,  at  the  suggestion  of  Cortez,  relin- 
quished their  part  of  the  public  treasure,  that 
the  whole  might  be  sent  to  the  king.  Two  of 
the  chief  magistrates  of  the  colony,  Portocarrero 
and  Montejo,  were  sent  in  one  of  the  two  ves- 
sels which  were  fitted  out  to  Spain  to  convey 
these  letters  and  presents.  They  were  directed 
not  to  stop  at  the  island  of  Cuba,  lest  they 
should  be  detained  by  Velasquez.  Ere  they 
embarked,  mass  was  celebrated  and  prayers 
were  offered  for  a prosperous  voyage.  It  was 
now  the  month  of  July,  1519. 

Just  after  the  vessels  had  sailed,  Cortez  was 
much  disturbed  by  a dangerous  conspiracy 
which  broke  out  in  the  camp.  Some  of  the 
disaffected,  who  had  been  silenced,  but  not  rec- 
onciled, with  great  secresy  matured  a plan  for 
seizing  one  of  the  brigantines  and  making  their 
escape  to  Cuba.  The  conspirators  had  actually 
gone  on  board  the  vessel,  and  were  ready  to 
weigh  the  anchor  and  spread  the  sails,  when 
one  of  the  number  repented  of  his  treachery, 
and  disclosed  the  plot  to  Cortez. 

The  stern  chieftain  immediately  went  him- 
self on  board  the  vessel.  The  crime  was  too 


126 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Punisument  of  the  conspirators.  Disturbing  developments. 

palpable  to  be  denied.  He  ordered  all  to  be 
seized  and  brought  on  shore.  Cortez  resolved 
to  punish  with  a severity  which  should  intimi- 
date  against  any  renewal  of  a similar  attempt. 
The  two  ringleaders  were  immediately  put  to 
death.  The  pilot  had  one  of  his  feet  cut  off. 
Two  of  the  sailors  received  two  hundred  lashes. 
The  rest  were  spared. 

It  is  recorded  that  Cortez,  as  he  was  ratify- 
ing this  sentence,  gave  a deep  sigh,  and  ex- 
claimed, 

‘ ‘ How  happy  is  he  who  is  not  able  to  write, 
and  is  thereby  prevented  from  signing  the  death- 
warrants  of  men !” 

But  this  development  of  disaffection  disturb- 
ed Cortez  exceedingly.  He  was  about  to  march 
two  hundred  miles  into  the  interior.  It  would 
be  necessary  to  leave  a garrison  at  Vera  Cruz. 
The  fleet  would  be  lying  idly  at  anchor  in  the 
harbor.  A more  successful  attempt  might  be 
made  during  his  absence;  and  Velasquez,  in- 
formed thus  of  his  position,  might  easily  send, 
from  the  powerful  colony  of  Cuba,  a force  suffi- 
cient to  take  possession  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  thus 
leave  Cortez  in  the  interior  but  a desperate  ad- 
venturer, wandering  in  the  midst  of  hostile  na- 
tions. In  this  emergence,  he  came  to  the  decis- 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  127 


Destruction  of  the  fleet.  Indignation  of  the  soldiers. 

ion,  of  almost  unparalleled  boldness,  to  destroy 
the  fleet!  He  would  thus  place  himself  in  a 
distant  land,  with  but  five  hundred  men,  hope- 
lessly cut  off  from  all  retreat,  and  exposed  to 
assault  from  exasperated  nations  numbering 
many  millions. 

This  plan  was  no  sooner  conceived  than  ex- 
ecuted. He  assembled  his  principal  friends 
privately,  and  informed  them  of  his  determina- 
tion. 

“We  shall  thus,”  said  he,  “ gain  all  the  sail- 
ors for  soldiers,  and  the  men,  having  no  possi- 
bility of  escape,  must  either  conquer  or  die.” 

While  most  of  the  soldiers  were  employed  at 
Zempoalla,  the  ships  were  dismantled  of  every 
movable  article,  and  they  were  then  scuttled 
and  sunk.  In  a few  hours  the  majestic  ocean 
rose  and  fell  in  silent  solitude  where  the  fleet 
had  so  proudly  floated.  One  small  vessel  only 
was  left. 

When  the  soldiers  heard  of  this  desperate 
deed,  they  were  struck  with  consternation. 
They  were  apparently  now  forever  separated 
from  friends  and  home.  In  case  of  disaster, 
escape  was  impossible  and  destruction  sure. 
Murmurs  of  indignation,  loud  and  deep,  began 
to  rise  against  Cortez.  He  immediately  gath- 


128  Hernando  Cortez. 

Cortez  wins  the  approval  of  his  men.  Preparations  for  the  journey. 

ered  liis  troops  around  him,  and,  by  his  peculiar 
tact,  soothed  their  anger,  and  won  them  to  ap- 
proval of  his  course.  They  at  once  saw  that 
murmurs  would  now  be  of  no  avail ; that  their 
destiny  was  henceforth  entirely  dependent  upon 
their  obedience  to  their  leader.  It  was  evident 
to  all  that  the  least  insubordination,  in  the  po- 
sition of  peril  in  which  they  were  placed,  would 
lead  to  inevitable  ruin.  Cortez  closed  his  speech 
with  the  following  forcible  words : 

“ As  for  me,  I have  chosen  my  part.  I will 
remain  here  while  there  is  one  to  bear  me  com- 
pany. If  there  be  any  so  craven  as  to  shrink 
from  sharing  the  danger  of  our  glorious  enter- 
prise, let  them  go  home.  There  is  still  one 
vessel  left.  Let  them  take  that  and  return  to 
Cuba.  They  can  tell  there  how  they  have  de- 
serted their  commander  and  their  comrades,  and 
can  wait  patiently  till  we  return,  loaded  with  the 
treasures  of  the  Mexicans.” 

These  excitable  men  were  roused  to  enthu- 
siasm by  this  speech.  One  general  shout  arose, 
“ To  Mexico ! to  Mexico !”  Cortez  now  made 
vigorous  preparations  for  his  march,  uninvited 
and  even  forbidden,  to  the  capital  of  Montezu- 
ma. All  was  alacrity  in  the  camp,  and  the  To- 
tonac  allies  were  as  zealous  in  their  preparations 
as  were  the  Spaniards. 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  129 


The  departure  and  march  to  Mexico. 

On  the  15tli  of  August,  1519,  commenced 
this  ever-memorable  march.  The  force  of  Cor- 
tez consisted  of  four  hundred  Spaniards,  fifteen 
horses,  and  seven  pieces  of  artillery.  The  small 
remainder  of  his  troops,  some  being  sick  or  oth- 
erwise disabled,  were  left  in  garrison  at  Yera 
Cruz.  The  cacique  of  the  Totonacs  also  fur- 
nished him  wfith  an  army  of  two  thousand  three 
hundred  men.  Of  these,  two  hundred  were 
what  were  called  men  of  burden , trained  to  car- 
ry heavy  loads  and  to  perform  all  arduous  la- 
bor. These  men  were  invaluable  in  carrying 
the  luggage  and  in  dragging  the  heavy  artillery. 
Cortez  assembled  his  forces  at  Zempoalla.  At 
the  moment  of  their  departure,  he  called  all  the 
Spaniards  around  him,  and  addressed  them  in  a 
devout  speech. 

“The  blessed  Savior,”  said  he,  “will  give 
us  victory.  We  have  now  no  other  security 
than  the  favor  of  God  and  our  own  stout  hearts.” 

The  morning  was  serene  and  cloudless  when 
the  army  commenced  its  march,  which  led  to 
scenes  of  unparalleled  cruelty  and  of  blood. 
Just  as  the  advance  guard  was  leaving,  a mes- 
senger brought  the  intelligence  that  a strange 
vessel  was  seen  cruising  oft'  the  coast  near  Yera 
Cruz.  Cortez  was  alarmed,  being  apprehensive 
I 


130 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Arrival  of  a strange  vessel.  Capture  of  prisoners.  The  stratagem. 

that  it  was  some  ship  belonging  to  a fleet  sent 
against  him  by  Velasquez.  He  immediately 
set  off  with  a small  party  of  horse  toward  the 
shore.  A boat  left  the  vessel  and  landed  four 
men.  Cortez  seized  them,  and  learned  that  this 
ship  was  sent  with  two  others,  conveying  two 
hundred  and  seventy  soldiers.  The  Governor 
of  Jamaica  having  learned  of  the  expedition  of 
Cortez,  had  sent  this  embassy  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  country,  and  to  inform  Cortez  that, 
by  a royal  commission  from  the  sovereign,  the 
Governor  of  Jamaica  was  entitled  to  have  au- 
thority over  the  whole  coast.  Cortez  impress- 
ed the  men  as  soldiers,  and  sent  them  to  be 
added  to  his  army.  Hoping  to  get  a few  more, 
he  hid,  with  his  guard,  for  a whole  night  behind 
some  sand-hills,  expecting  that  others  might 
land  to  look  for  their  lost  comrades.  Being 
disappointed  in  this  expectation,  he  resorted  to 
a stratagem  to  lure  others  on  shore.  Four  of 
his  men  were  dressed  in  the  clothes  of  the  pris- 
oners, and  sent  to  the  coast  to  make  signals. 
A boat  was  soon  seen  making  for  the  shore ; 
but,  as  soon  as  three  had  landed,  some  suspicion 
excited  the  fears  of  the  rest,  and  they  pushed 
off  from  the  beach.  The  three  were,  however, 
instantly  secured,  and  were  immediately  sent  to 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  131 


The  re-enforcement.  They  arrive  at  Jalapa.  Naulinco. 

join  their  companions  in  the  ranks.  Cortez 
thus  obtained  an  important  re-enforcement  of 
seven  Spaniards. 

Delaying  no  longer,  the  whole  army  was 
speedily  on  the  march.  For  two  days  they 
moved  gayly  along  through  an  enchanting  coun- 
try of  luxuriant  foliage,  waving  grain,  flowers, 
and  perfume.  They  encountered  no  opposition. 
Indian  villages  were  thickly  scattered  around, 
and  scenery  of  surpassing  magnificence  and 
loveliness  was  continually  opening  before  their 
eyes.  On  the  evening  of  the  second  day  they 
arrived  at  the  beautiful  town  of  Jalapa,  which 
was  filled  with  the  rural  residences  of  the 
wealthy  natives,  and  whose  elevated  site  com- 
manded a prospect  in  which  the  beautiful  and 
the  sublime  were  most  lavishly  blended. 

Still  continuing  their  march  through  a well- 
settled  country,  as  they  ascended  the  gradual 
slope  of  the  Cordilleras,  on  the  fourth  day  they 
arrived  at  Naulinco.  This  was  a large  and 
populous  town,  containing  many  massive  tem- 
ples, whose  altars  were  ever  crimsoned  with 
human  sore.  The  adventurers  were  received 
here,  however,  with  great  kindness.  The  sight 
of  these  heathen  temples  inspired  Cortez,  as 
usual,  with  intense  zeal  to  convert  the  natives 


132 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Erection  of  the  cross.  Ascent  of  the  Cordilleras. 

to  Christianity.  Time  pressed,  and  it  was  not 
safe  to  indulge  in  delay.  The  Indians  were 
bewildered  rather  than  instructed  by  the  exhor- 
tations of  the  Spanish  priests.  They,  howev- 
er, consented  that  Cortez  should  rear  a large 
cross  in  the  centre  of  their  market-place  as  a 
memorial  of  his  visit.  The  enthusiastic  Span- 
iard devoutly  hoped  that  the  sight  of  the  cross 
alone  would  excite  the  devotion  of  the  natives. 

They  had  now  ascended  far  up  the  gentle 
ascent  of  the  Cordilleras,  and  were  entering  the 
defiles  of  the  mountains.  Here  they  encoun- 
tered rugged  paths,  and  fierce  storms  of  wind 
and  sleet.  A weary  march  of  three  days  brought 
them  to  the  high  and  extended  table-land  so 
characteristic  of  this  country,  seven  thousand 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  Here  they  found 
a fertile  and  flowery  savanna  extending  before 
them  for  many  leagues.  The  country  was  high- 
ly cultivated,  and  luxuriantly  adorned  with 
hedges,  with  groves,  with  waving  fields  of  maize, 
and  with  picturesque  towns  and  villages.  God 
did  indeed  seem  to  smile  upon  these  reckless 
adventurers.  Thus  far  their  march  had  been 
as  a delightful  holiday  excursion. 

They  soon  arrived  at  Tlatlanquitepec.  It 
was  even  more  populous  and  improving  in  its 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  133 


The  city  of  Tlatlanquitepec.  Indications  of  idolatry.  A cold  reception. 

architecture  than  Zempoalla.  The  stone  houses 
were  spacious  and  comfortable.  Thirteen  mass- 
ive  temples  testified  to  the  religious  fervor  of 
the  people.  But  here  they  witnessed  the  most 
appalling  indications  of  the  horrid  atrocities  of 
pagan  idolatry.  They  found,  piled  in  order,  as 
they  judged,  one  hundred  thousand  skulls  of 
human  victims  who  had  been  offered  in  sacri- 
fice to  their  gods.*  There  was  a Mexican  gar- 
rison stationed  in  this  place,  but  not  sufficiently 
strong  to  resist  the  invaders.  They,  however, 
gave  Cortez  a very  cold  reception,  and  endeav- 
ored to  discourage  him  from  advancing  by  glow- 
ing descriptions  of  the  wealth  and  power  of 
the  monarch  whose  displeasure  he  was  incur- 
ring. These  developments,  however,  rather  in- 
cited anew  the  zeal  of  the  Spaniards.  Cortez, 
with  commendable  zeal,  again  made  vigorous 
but  unavailing  efforts  to  induce  these  benighted 
pagans  to  renounce  their  cruel  and  bloodstain- 
ed idols,  and  accept  the  religion  of  Jesus.  Poor- 
ly as  Cortez  was  instructed  in  the  doctrines  and 

* “Near  some  temples  were  laid  numbers  of  human  skele- 
tons, so  arranged  that  they  could  be  counted  with  ease  and 
certainty.  I am  convinced,  from  my  own  observation,  that 
there  were  above  a hundred  thousand.  I repeat  it,  I am  sure 
that  there  were  more  than  a hundred  thousand.” — Bernal 
Diaz,  p.  91. 


134 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cortez’s  mission.  His  commands,  and  their  refusal  to  obey. 

the  precepts  of  the  Gospel,  Christianity,  even 
as  darkly  discerned  by  his  mind,  was  infinitely 
superior  to  the  sanguinary  religious  rites  of 
these  idolaters. 

“We  come,”  said  he,  firmly,  to  the  chiefs  and 
the  principal  personages  of  the  town,  “ from  a 
distant  country,  to  warn  the  great  Montezuma 
to  desist  from  human  sacrifices,  and  all  out- 
rages upon  his  own  vassals  or  his  neighbors, 
and  to  require  from  him  submission  to  our  mon- 
arch ; and  I now  require  you,  all  who  hear  me, 
to  renounce  your  human  sacrifices,  cannibal 
feasts,  and  other  abominable  practices,  for  such 
is  the  command  of  our  Lord  God,  whom  we 
adore,  who  gives  us  life  and  death,  and  who  is 
to  raise  us  up  to  heaven.” 

The  natives,  however,  clung  to  the  debasing 
faith  of  their  fathers.  The  zeal  of  Cortez  was 
roused.  He  regarded  the  hideous  idols  as  rep- 
resentatives of  devils,  whom  it  was  right,  with 
any  violence,  to  overthrow.  He  was  just  about 
ordering  an  onslaught  upon  the  temples  with 
sword  and  hatchet,  when  the  prudent  Father 
Olmedo  dissuaded  him. 

“ By  introducing  our  religion  thus  violently,” 
said  this  truly  good  man,  “ we  shall  but  expose 
the  sacred  symbol  of  the  cross  and  the  image 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  135 

Advice  of  Father  Olmedo.  Arrival  at  Xalacingo.  Friendly  treatment. 


of  the  Blessed  Virgin  to  insult  as  soon  as  we 
shall  have  departed.  We  must  wait  till  we 
can  instruct  their  dark  minds,  so  that  from  the 
heart  they  may  embrace  our  faith.” 

And  here  let  us  record  the  full  and  the  cor- 
dial admission,  that  the  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
notwithstanding  its  corruptions,  has  sent  out 
into  the  wilds  of  heathenism  as  devoted  Chris- 
tians as  the  world  has  ever  seen. 

After  a rest  in  this  city  of  five  days,  the 
route  was  again  commenced.  The  road  wound 
picturesquely  along  the  banks  of  a broad  and 
tranquil  stream,  fringed  with  an  unbroken  line 
of  Indian  villages.  Some  twenty  leagues  of 
travel  brought  them  to  the  large  town  of  Xala- 
cingo. Here  they  met  with  friendly  treatment. 
They  were  now  on  the  frontiers  of  a very  pow- 
erful nation,  called  the  Tlascalans,  who,  by  their 
fierce  and  warlike  habits,  had  thus  far  succeed- 
ed in  resisting  the  aggressions  of  the  Mexicans. 
The  whole  nation  was  organized  into  a camp, 
and  thus,  though  many  bloody  battles  had  been 
fought,  the  Tlascalans  maintained  their  inde- 
pendence. 

Cortez  was  quite  sanguine  that  he  should  be 
able  to  form  an  alliance  with  this  people.  He 
therefore  decided  to  rest  his  army  for  a few  days, 


136 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Embassadors  to  the  Tlascalan  capital.  They  are  seized,  but  escape 

while  an  embassy  should  be  sent  to  the  Tlasca* 
lan  capital  to  solicit  permission  to  pass  through 
their  country,  and  gently  to  intimate  an  alli- 
ance. Four  Zempoallans  of  lofty  rank  were 
selected  as  embassadors.  In  accordance  with 
the  custom  of  the  country,  they  were  dressed  in 
official  costume,  with  flowing  mantles,  and  each 
bearing  arrows  tipped  with  white  feathers,  the 
symbol  of  peace. 

But  the  Tlascalans  had  heard  of  the  arrival 
of  the  Spaniards  upon  the  coast,  of  their  ships, 
“ armed  with  thunder  and  clad  with  wings,”  of 
their  fearful  war-horses,  and  of  their  weapons 
of  destruction  of  almost  supernatural  power. 
They  had  also  heard  of  the  violence  with  which 
they  had  assailed  the  gods  of  the  country.  The 
principal  lords  had  already  assembled  in  debate 
to  decide  upon  the  course  to  be  pursued  should 
these  formidable  strangers  approach  their  terri- 
tory. It  was  determined  to  oppose  them  with 
all  the  energies  of  artifice  and  of  force.  The 
embassadors  were  accordingly  seized  and  im- 
prisoned, and  preparations  were  made  to  sacri- 
fice them  to  their  gods.  They,  however,  for- 
tunately made  their  escape  and  returned  to 
Cortez. 

The  Spanish  chieftain,  disappointed  but  not 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  137 


The  Spaniards  determine  to  force  a passage.  The  attack. 

intimidated  by  this  result,  made  prompt  arrange- 
ments to  force  his  way  through  the  Tlascalan 
territory.  Waving  the  sacred  banner  of  the 
Church  before  his  troops,  he  exclaimed, 

“ Spaniards ! follow  boldly  the  standard  of 
the  Holy  Cross.  Through  this  we  shall  con- 
quer. ” 

“On!  on!”  was  the  enthusiastic  response 
of  the  soldiers.  “ In  God  alone  we  place  our 
trust.” 

The  march  of  a few  miles  brought  them  to 
an  extended  wall  of  solid  masonry,  built,  like 
the  great  wall  of  China,  to  protect  the  territory 
of  the  Tlascalans  from  invasion.  Though  the 
entrance  gate  was  so  constructed  that  a small 
army  stationed  there  might  have  made  very 
powerful  resistance,  for  some  reason  the  Tlasca- 
lan force  had  been  withdrawn.  The  army  bold- 
ly pressed  in,  and  advanced  rapidly,  yet  using 
all  caution  to  guard  against  an  ambuscade. 
They  had  not  proceeded  far,  however,  before 
they  met  a large  force  of  the  Indians,  who  at- 
tacked them  with  the  utmost  fury,  and  with  a 
degree  of  military  skill  and  discipline  which 
greatly  surprised  the  Spaniards.  Two  of  the 
horses  were  killed,  and  several  of  the  Spaniards 
wounded.  For  a time  the  situation  of  the  in- 


138 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  Tlascalans  forced  to  retire.  Destruction  of  the  provisions. 

vaders  was  very  precarious ; but  Cortez  soon 
brought  up  the  artillery,  and  opened  a destruc- 
tive fire  upon  the  unprotected  foe.  The  thun- 
der of  the  guns,  which  the  Tlascalans  had  nev- 
er heard  before,  and  the  horrid  carnage  of  the 
grape-shot  sweeping  through  their  ranks,  com- 
pelled the  warlike  natives  at  last,  though  slow- 
ly and  sullenly,  to  retire.  There  was,  however, 
no  confusion  in  their  retreat.  They  retired  in 
good  order,  ever  presenting  a bold  front  to  their 
pursuers.  Cortez  estimated  the  number  of  the 
enemy  engaged  in  this  battle  at  six  thousand. 

The  retiring  Tlascalans  took  with  them  or 
destroyed  all  the  provisions  which  the  country 
afforded ; but,  notwithstanding  this,  “ their 
dogs,”  one  of  the  historians  of  the  expedition 
records,  “ which  we  caught  when  they  returned 
to  their  habitations  at  night,  afforded  us  a very 
good  supper.” 

It  was  now  the  end  of  September.  The 
army  of  Cortez  had  been  gradually  increased  by 
recruits  from  among  the  natives  to  three  thou- 
sand. Immediately  after  this  first  battle  with 
the  Tlascalans,  the  whole  army  was  assembled 
to  offer  thanks  to  God  for  the  victory,  and  to 
implore  his  continued  protection.  The  soldiers, 
with  the  fresh  blood  of  the  Tlascalans  hardly 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  139 


The  sacrament.  Chivalry  of  the  barbarians.  A supply  of  provisions. 

washed  from  their  hands,  partook  of  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord’s  Supper  according  to  the 
rites  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

The  army  now  marched  in  close  order.  The 
Totonac  allies,  as  well  as  the  Spaniards,  were 
drilled  to  perfect  discipline,  and  all  were  in- 
spired with  intense  zeal.  With  characteristic 
caution  Cortez  chose  every  night  his  place  of 
halting,  and  with  great  vigilance  fortified  his 
encampment.  There  was  something  truly  chiv- 
alrous in  the  magnanimity  displayed  by  these 
barbarians.  They  seemed  to  scorn  the  idea  of 
taking  their  enemies  by  surprise,  but  always 
sent  them  fair  warning  when  they  intended  to 
make  an  attack.  They  had  now  the  impression 
that  the  Spaniards  had  left  their  own  country 
because  it  did  not  furnish  sufficient  food  for 
them.  They  therefore  sent  to  their  camp  an 
abundant  supply  of  poultry  and  corn,  saying, 
“Eat  plentifully.  We  disdain  to  attack  a foe 
enfeebled  by  hunger.  It  would  be  an  insult  to 
our  gods  to  offer  them  starved  victims  ; neither 
do  we  wish  to  feed  on  emaciated  bodies.  We 
have  before  mentioned  that  it  was  the  horrid 
custom  of  this  people  to  offer  as  sacrifices  to 
their  gods  prisoners  taken  in  war,  and  then  to 
banquet  in  savage  orgies  over  the  remains. 


140 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Encounter  the  enemy.  Confession.  Release  of  the  captive  chiefs. 

As  Cortez  moved  cautiously  on,  adopting  ev- 
ery precaution  to  guard  against  surprise,  he 
suddenly  emerged  from  a valley  upon  a wide- 
spread plain.  Here  he  again  encountered  the 
enemy,  drawn  up  in  battle  array,  in  numbers 
apparently  overwhelming.  It  was  now  even- 
ing. As  it  was  understood  that  the  Tlascalans 
never  attacked  by  night,  considering  it  dishon- 
orable warfare,  the  Spaniards  pitched  their  tents, 
having  posted  sentinels  to  watch  the  foe  with 
the  utmost  vigilance.  The  morning  was  to 
usher  in  a dreadful  battle,  with  fearful  odds 
against  the  invaders.  Two  chiefs  who  had 
been  taken  prisoners  in  the  late  battle  stated 
that  the  force  of  the  Tlascalans  consisted  of  five 
divisions  of  ten  thousand  men  each.  Each  di- 
vision had  its  own  uniform  and  banner,  and  was 
under  the  command  of  its  appropriate  chief.  It 
was  a solemn  hour  in  the  Spanish  camp. 
“ When  all  this  was  communicated  to  us,”  says 
Diaz,  “ being  but  mortal,  and,  like  all  others, 
fearing  death,  we  prepared  for  battle  by  con- 
fessing to  our  reverend  fathers,  who  were  occu- 
pied during  that  whole  night  in  that  holy  of- 
fice.” 

Cortez  released  his  captive  chiefs,  and  sent 
them  with  an  amicable  message  to  their  coun- 

O 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  141 


Tlascalanian  mode  of  making  peace.  Cortez  prepares  for  battle. 

trymen,  stating  that  he  asked  only  an  unmo- 
lested passage  through  their  country  to  Mexi- 
co, but  sternly  declaring,  “ If  this  proposition 
be  refused,  I will  enter  your  capital  as  a con- 
queror. I will  burn  every  house.  I will  put 
every  inhabitant  to  the  sword.”  An  answer  was 
returned  of  the  most  implacable  defiance.  “We 
will  make  peace,”  said  the  Tlascalans,  “by  de- 
vouring your  bodies,  and  offering  your  hearts 
and  your  blood  in  sacrifice  to  our  gods.” 

The  morning  of  the  5th  of  September  dawn- 
ed cloudless  and  brilliant  upon  the  two  armies 
encamped  upon  the  high  table-lands  of  the  Cor- 
dilleras. At  an  early  hour  the  Spanish  bugles 
roused  the  sleeping  host.  The  wounded  men, 
even,  resumed  their  place  in  the  ranks,  so  great 
was  the  peril.  Cortez  addressed  a few  inspirit- 
ing words  to  the  troops,  and  placed  himself  at 
their  head.  Just  as  the  sun  was  rising  he 
put  his  army  in  motion.  Soon  they  arrived  in 
sight  of  the  Tlascalans.  The  interminable  host 
filled  a vast  plain,  six  miles  square,  with  their 
thronging  multitudes.  The  native  warriors,  in 
bands  skillfully  posted,  were  decorated  with  the 
highest  appliances  of  barbaric  pomp.  As  the 
experienced  eye  of  Cortez  ranged  over  their 
dense  ranks,  he  estimated  their  numbers  at 


142 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  battle.  Courage  of  the  enemy. 

more  than  one  hundred  thousand.  Their  weap- 
ons were  slings,  arrows,  javelins,  clubs,  and 
rude  wooden  swords,  sharpened  with  teeth  of 
flint. 

The  moment  the  Spaniards  appeared,  the 
Tlascalans,  uttering  hideous  yells,  and  filling 
the  air  with  all  the  inconceivable  clamor  of  their 
military  bands,  rushed  upon  them  like  the  on- 
rolling  surges  of  the  ocean.  The  first  discharge 
from  the  native  army  of  stones,  arrows,  and 
darts  was  so  tremendous  as  to  darken  the  sky 
like  a thick  cloud.  Notwithstanding  the  armor 
worn  by  the  Spaniards  was  impervious  to  ar- 
row or  javelin,  many  were  wounded. 

But  soon  the  cannon  was  unmasked,  and 
opened  its  terrific  roar.  Ball  and  grape-shot 
swept  through  the  dense  ranks  of  the  natives, 
mowing  down,  in  hideous  mutilation,  whole  pla- 
toons at  a discharge.  The  courage  displayed 
by  the  Tlascalans  was  amazing.  It  has  never 
been  surpassed.  Though  hardly  able,  with 
their  feeble  weapons,  to  injure  their  adversaries, 
regardless  of  death,  they  filled  up  the  gaps 
which  the  cannon  opened  in  their  ranks,  and  all 
the  day  long  continued  the  unequal  fight. 

Immense  multitudes  of  the  dead  now  cover- 
ed the  field,  and  many  of  the  chiefs  were  slain. 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  143 


The  natives  vanquished.  Surprise  at  the  small  losses  of  the  Spaniards. 

Every  horse  was  wounded  ; seventy  Spaniards 
were  severely  injured  ; one  was  dead,  and  near- 
ly all  were  more  or  less  bruised.  But  the  ar- 
tillery and  the  musketry  were  still  plied  with 
awful  carnage.  The  commander-in-chief  of  the 
native  army,  finding  it  in  vain  to  contend 
against  these  new  and  apparently  unearthly 
weapons,  at  last  ordered  a retreat.  The  na- 
tives retired  in  as  highly  disciplined  array  as 
would  have  been  displayed  by  French  or  Aus- 
trian troops.  The  victors,  exhausted  and  bleed- 
ing, were  glad  to  throw  themselves  upon  the 
gory  grass  of  the  battle-field  for  repose.  The 
cold  wind  at  night,  from  the  mountain  glaciers, 
swept  the  bleak  plain,  and  the  soldiers  shivered 
in  their  houseless  beds.  They  did  not  sleep, 
however,  until,  in  a body,  they  had  returned 
thanks  to  the  God  of  peace  and  love  for  their 
glorious  victory.  4 4 It  truly  seemed,”  said  Cor- 
tez, devoutly,  “that  God  fought  on  our  side.” 
It  appears  almost  incredible  that,  in  such  a 
conflict,  the  Spanish  army  should  have  received 
so  little  injury.  But  Cortez  made  no  account 
of  any  amount  of  loss  on  the  part  of  his  native 
allies.  The  Spaniards  only  he  thought  of,  and 
they  were  protected  with  the  utmost  care. 
Their  artillery  and  musketry  kept  the  natives 


144 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Courage  of  the  Spaniards  accounted  for.  The  midnight  foray. 

at  a distance,  and  their  helmets  and  coats  of 
mail  no  native  weapon  could  easily  penetrate. 
Their  danger  was  consequently  so  small  that 
we  can  not  give  them  credit  for  quite  so  much 
heroism  as  they  have  claimed.  The  enterprise, 
in  its  commencement,  was  bold  in  the  extreme  ; 
but  it  it  easy  to  be  fearless  when  experience 
proves  that  there  is  but  little  peril  to  be  encoun- 
tered. They  fought  one  hundred  thousand 
men  for  a whole  day,  and -lost  one  man  ! 

As  night  enveloped  in  its  folds  the  blood- 
stained hosts,  the  untiring  Cortez,  having  buried 
his  dead,  that  his  loss  might  not  be  perceived  by 
the  enemy,  sallied  forth  with  the  horse  and  a 
hundred  foot,  and  four  hundred  of  the  native 
allies,  and  with  fire  and  sword  devastated  six 
villages  of  a hundred  houses  each,  taking  four 
hundred  prisoners,  including  men  and  women. 
Before  daybreak  he  returned  from  this  wild  fo- 
ray to  the  camp. 

During  the  night  the  Tlascalans  had  been  re- 
ceiving re-enforcements,  and  when  the  first  dawn 
of  morning  appeared,  more  than  one  hundred 
and  forty-nine  thousand  natives,  according  to 
the  estimate  of  Cortez,  made  a rush  upon  the 
camp.  After’ a battle  of  four  hours  they  were 
again  compelled  to  retreat.  “As  we  carried 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  145 


The  TIascalanians  sue  for  peace.  Cruel  treatment  of  the  embassadors. 

the  banner  of  the  cross,”  says  Cortez,  4 4 and 
fought  for  our  faith,  God,  in  his  glorious  prov- 
idence, gave  us  a great  victory.” 

Night  again  came.  Again  this  indomitable 
man  of  iron  sinews  marched  forth  in  the  dark- 
ness, with  his  horse,  one  hundred  Spanish  in- 
fantry, and  a large  party  of  his  allies,  and  set 
three  thousand  houses  in  flames,  encountering 
no  opposition,  burning  out  only  the  women  and 
children  and  the  unarmed  inhabitants.  Cortez 
treated  all  the  prisoners  he  took  very  kindly, 
and  liberated  them  with  presents.  This  hu- 
manity amazed  the  natives,  who  were  accustom- 
ed to  a procedure  so  very  different. 

The  Tlascalans  were  now  much  dishearten- 
ed, and  were  inclined  to  peace.  But  they  were 
quite  at  a loss  to  know  how  to  approach  the 
terrible  foe.  After  much  deliberation,  they  sent 
an  embassage,  composed  of  fifty  of  their  most 
prominent  men,  bearing  rich  presents.  Cortez 
suspected  them  of  being  spies.  With  cruelty, 
which  will  ever  be  an  ineffaceable  stigma  upon 
his  name,  he  ordered  them  all  to  be  arrested, 
and  their  hands  to  be  cut  off.  Thus  awfully 
mutilated,  these  unhappy  men  were  sent  back 
to  the  Tlascalan  camp  with  the  defiant  mes- 
sage, 


K 


146 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  Tlascalans  subdued.  Speech  of  the  commander-in-chief 

“ The  Tlascalans  may  come  by  day  or  by 
night ; the  Spaniards  are  ready  for  them.” 

Cortez  himself  relates  this  act  of  atrocious 
cruelty.  Nothing  can  be  said  in  its  extenua- 
tion. There  was  even  no  proof,  but  only  sus- 
picion that  they  were  spies.  It  is,  indeed,  not 
at  all  probable  that,  if  such  were  the  intention, 
fifty  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  the  nation 
would  have  been  selected.  It  is,  however,  cer- 
tain, that  after  this  all  farther  idea  of  resistance 
was  abandoned.  The  commander-in-chief  of 
the  Tlascalan  army,  with  a numerous  retinue, 
entered  the  Spanish  camp  with  proffers  of  sub- 
mission. This  brave  and  proud  chieftain,  sub- 
dued by  the  terrors  of  the  resistless  engines  of 
war  worked  by  the  Spaniards,  addressed  Cortez 
in  the  following  language,  which  will  command 
universal  respect  and  sympathy. 

“ I loved  my  country,”  said  he,  “ and  wished 
to  preserve  its  independence.  We  have  been 
beaten.  I hope  that  you  will  use  your  victory 
with  moderation,  and  not  trample  upon  our  lib- 
erties. In  the  name  of  the  nation,  I now  ten- 
der obedience  to  the  Spaniards.  We  will  be 
as  faithful  in  peace  as  we  have  been  bold  in 
war.” 

Cortez  received  this  submission  with  great 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  147 


They  march  to  the  city  of  Tlascala.  Appearance  of  the  city. 

secret  satisfaction,  for  his  men,  worn  down  with 
fatigue,  were  beginning  loudly  to  murmur.  A 
cordial  peace  was  soon  concluded.  The  Tlas- 
calans were  the  inveterate  foes  of  the  Mexicans, 
and  had  long  been  fighting  against  them.  They 
yielded  themselves  as  vassals  to  the  King  of 
Spain,  and  engaged  to  assist  Cortez  in  all  his 
enterprises.  The  two  armies,  which  had  re- 
cently met  in  such  fierce  and  terrible  encounter, 
now  mingled  together  as  friends  and  brothers. 
In  one  vast  united  band  they  marched  toward 
the  great  city  of  Tlascala,  and  entered  the  cap- 
ital in  triumph. 

It  was,  indeed,  a large  and  magnificent  city ; 
more  populous,  and  of  more  imposing  architec- 
ture, Cortez  asserts,  than  the  celebrated  Moor- 
ish capital,  Granada,  in  old  Spain.  An  im- 
mense throng  flocked  from  the  gates  of  the  city 
to  meet  the  troops.  The  roofs  of  the  houses 
were  covered  with  spectators.  Wild  music, 
from  semi-barbarian  voices  and  bands,  filled  the 
air.  Plumed  warriors  hurried  to  and  fro,  and 
shouts  of  welcome  seemed  to  rend  the  skies,  as 
these  hardy  adventurers  slowly  defiled  through 
the  crowded  gates  and  streets  of  the  city.  The 
police  regulations  were  extraordinarily  effective, 
repressing  all  disorder.  The  Spaniards  were 


148 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Treatment  of  the  vanquished  natives.  Peril  of  Cortez’s  army. 

surprised  to  find  barbers’  shops,  and  also  baths 
both  for  hot  and  cold  'water. 

The  submission  of  the  Tlascalans  was  sin- 
cere and  entire.  They  were  convinced  that  the 
Spaniards  were  beings  of  a superior  order  whom 
it  was  in  vain  to  resist.  Cortez  treated  the 
vanquished  natives  with  great  courtesy  and 
kindness.  He  took  the  Tlascalan  republic  un- 
der his  protection,  and  promised  to  defend  them 
from  every  foe. 

The  peril  of  Cortez  at  this  juncture  had  been 
very  great.  The  difficulty  of  obtaining  suffi- 
cient food  for  his  army,  while  ever  on  the  march, 
called  into  requisition  his  utmost  sagacity  and 
exertions.  No  man  of  ordinary  character  could 
have  surmounted  this  difficulty.  Fatigue  and 
exposure  had  placed  many  on  the  sick-list,  and 
there  were  no  hospital  wagons  to  convey  them 
along.  Fifty-live  Spaniards  had  died  on  the 
way.  Cortez  himself  was  seriously  indisposed. 
Every  night  one  half  of  the  army  kept  up  a vig- 
ilant watch,  while  all  the  rest  slept  on  their 
arms.  And  Diaz  records  that  they  had  no  salve 
to  dress  their  wounds  but  what  was  composed 
of  the  fat  of  the  Indians  whom  they  had  slain. 
Whenever  the  enemy  was  defeated,  he  retired 
only  to  reappear  in  increasing  numbers.  Under 


The  Tlascalans  Subjugated.  149 


Murmurs  dispelled.  Population  of  the  city. 

these  circumstances,  it  is  not  strange  that  many 
of  the  soldiers  had  thought  of  their  homes,  and 
that  loud  murmurs  had  been  uttered.  But  this 
sudden  peace  dispelled  all  discontent.  In  the 
abundance  and  the  repose  of  the  great  city  of 
Tlascala,  all  past  toil  and  hardship  were  for- 
gotten. 

Cortez,  in  his  letter  to  the  emperor,  stated 
that  so  populous  was  Tlascala,  that  he  presumed 
as  many  as  thirty  thousand  persons  appeared 
daily  in  the  market-place  of  the  city  buying  and 
selling.  The  population  of  the  province  he  es- 
timated at  five  hundred  thousand. 


\ 


150 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Prudence  of  Cortes.  Enthusiasm  of  the  natives.  Alarm  of  Montezuma. 


Chapter  VI. 

The  March  to  Mexico. 
ORTEZ  remained  in  Tlascala  twenty  days, 


to  refresh  his  troops,  and  to  cement  his 
alliance  with  his  new  friends.  He  was  all  this 
time  very  diligent  in  making  the  most  minute 
inquiries  respecting  the  condition  of  the  Mexi- 
can empire,  and  in  preparing  for  every  emer- 
gence which  could  arise  in  the  continuance  of 
his  march.  Bold  as  he  was,  his  prudence  equal- 
ed his  boldness,  and  he  left  nothing  willingly  to 
the  decisions  of  chance.  The  Tlascalans  hated 
virulently  their  ancient  foes  the  Mexicans,  and 
with  that  fickleness  of  character,  ever  conspicu- 
ous in  the  uninformed  multitude,  became  fond 
even  to  adulation  of  the  Spaniards.  With  great 
enthusiasm  they  embarked  in  the  enterprise  of 
joining  the  expedition  against  Montezuma.  All 
the  forces  of  the  republic  were  promptly  raised, 
and  placed  under  the  command  of  Cortez. 

Montezuma  was  informed  of  all  these  pro- 
ceedings, and  was  greatly  alarmed.  He  feared 
that  a prophetic  doom  was  about  to  descend 


The  March  to  Mexico.  151 

The  embassy  to  Cortez.  Cortez’s  answer.  Conversion  of  the  natives. 


upon  him,  and  this  apprehension  wilted  all  his 
wonted  energies.  Thus  influenced,  he  sent  an 
embassy,  consisting  of  five  of  the  most  conspicu- 
ous nobles  of  his  empire,  accompanied  by  a ret- 
inue of  two  hundred  attendants,  to  visit  the 
Spanish  camp.  Men  of  burden  were  laden  down 
with  rich  presents  for  Cortez.  The  gold  alone 
of  the  gifts  was  estimated  at  over  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  Montezuma  weakly  hoped  by  these 
gifts  to  induce  Cortez  to  arrest  his  steps.  The 
embassadors  were  instructed  to  urge  him,  by 
all  possible  considerations,  not  to  attempt  to 
approach  the  Mexican  capital. 

Cortez  returned  an  answer  replete  with  ex- 
pressions of  Castilian  courtesy,  but  declaring 
that  he  must  obey  the  commands  of  his  sov- 
ereign, which  required  him  to  visit  the  metrop- 
olis of  the  great  empire. 

But,  in  the  midst  of  all  these  cares,  Cortez 
did  not  forget  his  great  mission  of  converting 
the  natives  to  Christianity.  This  subject  wras 
ever  prominent  in  his  mind,  and  immediately 
upon  his  entrance  into  the  city  he  commenced, 
through  his  interpreters,  urging  the  chiefs  to 
abandon  their  cruel  idolatry.  He  argued  with 
them  himself,  and  called  into  requisition  all  the 
persuasive  eloquence  of  good  Father  Olmedo. 


152 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  five  maidens.  Cortez  declines  the  gift.  Presentation  of  the  image 

The  chiefs  brought  five  maidens,  all  noble 
bom,  and  of  selected  beauty.  These  girls  were 
beautifully  dressed,  and  each  attended  by  a 
slave.  Xicotenga,  the  cacique  of  the  nation, 
presented  his  own  daughter  to  Cortez,  and  re- 
quested him  to  assign  the  rest  to  his  officers. 
Cortez  firmly,  yet  courteously  declined  the  gift, 
saying, 

“ If  you  wish  that  we  should  intermarry  with 
you,  you  must  first  renounce  your  idolatrous 
worship  and  adore  our  God.  He  will  then 
bless  you  in  this  life,  and  after  death  he  will  re- 
ceive you  to  heaven  to  enjoy  eternal  happiness  ; 
but  if  you  persist  in  the  worship  of  your  idols, 
which  are  devils,  you  will  be  drawn  by  them  to 
their  infernal  pit,  there  to  burn  eternally  in 
flames  of  fire.” 

He  then  presented  to  them  “ a beauteous  im- 
age of  Our  Lady,  with  her  precious  Son  in  her 
arms,”  and  attempted  to  explain  to  them  the 
mystery  of  the  incarnation,  and  the  potency  of 
the  mediatorship  of  the  Virgin. 

“ The  God  of  the  Christians,”  the  Tlascalans 
replied,  “ must  be  great  and  good.  We  will 
give  him  a place  with  our  gods,  who  are  also  * 
great  and  good.  Our  god  grants  us  victory 
over  our  enemies.  Our  goddess  preserves  us 


The  March  to  Mexico.  153 


The  compromise.  Indignation  on  both  sides. 

from  inundations  of  the  river.  Should  we  for- 
sake their  worship,  the  most  dreadful  punish- 
ment -would  overwhelm  us.” 

Cortez  could  admit  of  no  such  compromise ; 
and  he  urged  the  destruction  of  the  idols  with 
so  much  zeal  and  importunity,  that  at  last  the 
Tlascalans  became  angry,  and  declared  that  on 
no  account  whatever  would  they  abandon  the 
gods  of  their  fathers.  Cortez  now,  in  his  turn, 
-was  roused  to  virtuous  indignation,  and  he  re- 
solved that,  happen  what  might,  the  true  God 
should  be  honored  by  the  swift  destruction  of 
these  idols  of  the  heathen.  Encouraged  by  the 
success  of  his  violent  measures  at  Zempoalla, 
he  was  on  the  point  of  ordering  the  soldiers  to 
make  an  onslaught  on  the  gods  of  the  Tlasca- 
lans, which  would  probably  have  so  roused  the 
warlike  and  exasperated  natives  as  to  have  led 
to  the  entire  destruction  of  his  army  in  the  nar- 
row streets  of  the  thronged  capital,  when  the 
judicious  and  kind-hearted  Father  Olmedo  dis- 
suaded him  from  the  rash  enterprise.  With 
true  Christian  philosophy,  he  plead  that  forced 
conversion  wTas  no  conversion  at  all ; that  God’s 
reign  was  only  over  willing  minds  and  in  the 
heart.  “ Beligion,”  said  this  truly  good  man, 
“can  not  be  propagated  by  the  sword.  Pa- 


154 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Father  Olmedo  dissuades  him  from  his  purpose.  The  protest 

tient  instruction  must  enlighten  the  understand- 
ing, and  pious  example  captivate  the  affections, 
before  men  can  be  induced  to  abandon  error 
and  embrace  the  truth.”  It  is  truly  refreshing 
to  meet  with  these  noble  ideas  of  toleration 
spoken  by  a Spanish  monk  in  that  dark  age. 
Let  such  a fact  promote,  not  indifference  to 
true  and  undefiled  religion,  but  a generous  char- 
ity.* 

Cortez  reluctantly  yielded  to  these  remon- 
strances of  an  ecclesiastic  whose  wisdom  and 
virtue  he  was  compelled  to  respect.  The  man- 
ifest pressure  of  circumstances  also  undoubted- 
ly had  their  influence.  But  this  ardent  reform- 
er could  not  yield  without  entering  his  protest. 

“We  can  not,”  he  said,  “I  admit,  change 
the  heart,  but  we  can  demolish  these  abomin- 
able idols,  clamoring  for  their  hecatombs  of  hu- 
man victims,  and  we  can  introduce  in  their 
stead  the  blessed  Virgin  and  her  blessed  child. 

* “When  Reverent!  Father  Olmedo,  who  was  a wise  and 
good  theologian,  heard  this,  being  averse  to  forced  conversions, 
notwithstanding  it  had  been  done  in  Zempoalla,  he  advised 
Cortez  to  urge  it  no  farther  at  present.  He  also  observed 
that  the  destruction  of  their  idols  was  a fruitless  violence  if 
the  principle  was  not  eradicated  from  their  minds  by  argu- 
ments, as  they  would  find  other  idols  to  continue  their  wor- 
ship to  elsewhere.” 


The  March  to  Mexico.  155 

The  prisons  emptied  of  the  victims.  Baptism  of  the  brides. 

Will  not  this  be  a humane  change  ? And,  be- 
cause  we  can  not  do  the  whole,  shall  we  refuse 
to  do  a part  ?” 

Upon  one  point,  however,  Cortez  was  inflex- 
ible, and  to  this  the  Tlascalans,  by  way  of  com- 
promise, assented.  He  insisted  that  the  pris- 
ons should  be  entirely  emptied  of  victims  des- 
tined for  sacrifice.  There  were  in  the  temples 
many  poor  wretches  fattening  for  these  horrid 
orgies.  A promise  was  also  exacted  from  the 
Tlascalans  that  they  would  hereafter  desist  from 
these  heathen  practices ; but  no  sooner  had 
the  tramp  of  the  Spaniards  ceased  to  echo 
through  the  streets  of  Tlascala,  than  the  pris- 
ons were  again  filled  with  victims,  and  human 
blood,  in  new  torrents,  crimsoned  their  altars. 

One  of  the  temples  was  also  cleared  out,  and 
an  altar  being  erected,  it  was  converted  into  a 
Christian  church.  Here  the  young  ladies  des- 
tined as  brides  for  the  Spanish  soldiers  were 
baptized,  their  friends  presenting  no  objections. 
The  daughter  of  Xicotenga  received  the  Chris- 
tian name  of  Louisa.  Cortez  took  her  by  the 
hand,  and  gracefully  presented  her  to  one  of  his 
captains,  Alvarado,  telling  her  father  that  that 
officer  was  his  brother.  The  cacique  express- 
ed entire  satisfaction  at  this  arrangement.  All 


156 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Montezuma  invites  Cortez  to  his  capital.  Zeal  of  the  Tlascalans. 

were  baptized  and  received  Christian  names. 
Many  of  the  descendants  of  this  beautiful  and 
amiable  Indian  maiden  may  now  be  found 
among  the  grandees  of  Spain. 

Montezuma,  on  the  return  of  his  embassadors, 
finding  that  no  argument  could  dissuade  Cortez, 
and  fearing  by  opposition  to  provoke  the  hos- 
tility of  an  enemy  who  wielded  such  supernat- 
ural thunders,  now  decided  to  change  his  policy, 
and  by  cordiality  to  endeavor  to  win  his  friend- 
ship. He  accordingly  sent  another  embassy, 
with  still  richer  presents,  inviting  Cortez  to  his 
capital,  and  assuring  him  of  a warm  welcome. 
He  entreated  him,  however,  not  to  enter  into 
any  alliance  with  the  Tlascalans,  the  most  fierce 
and  unrelenting  foes  of  the  Mexican  empire. 

The  time  had  now  arrived  for  Cortez  to  re- 
sume his  march.  The  zeal  of  the  Tlascalans 
to  accompany  him  was  so  great  that,  according 
to  his  representation,  he  might  have  taken  with 
him  one  hundred  thousand  volunteers.  He, 
however,  considered  this  force  too  unwieldy, 
and  accepted  of  but  six  thousand  picked  troops. 
This,  however,  was  a strong  re-enforcement, 
and  Cortez  now  rode  proudly  at  the  head  of  a 
regular  army  which  could  bid  defiance  to  all 
opposition. 


The  March  to  Mexico.  157 


The  city  of  Cholula.  Arrival.  They  decline  admitting  the  Tlascalans. 

Eighteen  miles  from  Tlascala  was  situated 
the  city  of  Cholula,  and  this  city  was  but  sixty- 
four  miles  east  of  the  renowned  Mexican  me- 
tropolis. Cholula  was  a city  whose  population 
was  estimated  at  one  hundred  thousand.  As 
it  belonged  to  Mexico,  the  bitterest  animosity 
existed  between  its  inhabitants  and  those  of 
Tlascala.  Cortez  was  warned  by  his  new  al- 
lies not  to  enter  the  city,  as  he  might  depend 
upon  encountering  treachery  there ; but  the 
Spanish  general  considered  himself  now  too 
strong  to  turn  aside  from  any  danger. 

As  the  Spanish  army  approached  the  city,  a 
procession  came  out  to  meet  them,  with  ban- 
ners, and  bands  of  music,  and  censers  smoking 
with  incense.  Numerous  nobles  and  priests 
headed  the  procession.  They  received  Cortez 
and  the  Zempoallans  with  every  demonstration 
of  friendship,  but  declined  admitting  their  in- 
veterate enemies,  the  Tlascalans,  within  their 
walls.  Cortez  accordingly  ordered  these  allies 
to  encamp  upon  the  plain  before  the  city,  while 
he,  with  the  rest  of  the  army,  marched  with 
great  military  pomp  into  the  metropolis,  which 
was  resounding  with  acclamations. 

He  found  a beautiful  city,  with  wide,  neatly- 
arranged  streets  and  handsome  dwellings.  It 


158 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Rumors  of  treachery.  Marina  discovers  a plot. 

was  the  sacred  city  of  the  Mexicans.  Many 
gorgeous  temples  lined  the  streets,  and  one  of 
extraordinary  grandeur  was  the  most  renowned 
sanctuary  of  the  empire.  It  is  alleged  by  some, 
and  denied  by  others,  that  the  Mexicans  had 
invited  the  Spaniards  into  the  holy  city,  hoping 
by  the  aid  of  the  gods  to  effect  their  entire  de- 
struction. The  Tlascalans,  who  were  encamp- 
ed outside  of  the  city,  affirmed  that  the  women 
and  children  of  the  principal  inhabitants  were 
leaving  the  city  by  night.  They  also  declared 
that  a large  body  of  Mexican  troops  were  con- 
cealed near  the  town.  Two  of  the  Tlascalans, 
who  had  entered  the  city  in  disguise,  declared 
that  some  of  the  streets  were  barricaded,  and 
that  others  were  undermined,  and  but  slightly 
covered  over,  as  traps  for  the  horses.  They 
also  reported  that  six  children  had  recently  been 
sacrificed  in  the  chief  temple,  which  was  a cer- 
tain indication  that  some  great  military  enter- 
prise was  on  foot.  Cortez,  however,  did  not 
place  much  reliance  upon  this  testimony  from 
the  Tlascalans.  He  was  well  aware  that  they 
would  be  glad,  in  any  way,  to  bring  down  de- 
struction on  Cholula. 

But  more  reliable  testimony  came  from  the 
amiable  Marina.  She  had  won  the  love  of  one 


The  March  to  Mexico.  159 


Cortez  resents  the  treachery  of  the  natives.  The  massacre. 

of  the  noble  ladies  of  the  city.  This  woman, 
wishing  to  save  Marina  from  destruction,  in- 
formed her  that  a plot  was  in  progress  for  the 
inevitable  ruin  of  her  friends.  According  to 
her  account,  deep  pits  were  dug  and  concealed 
in  the  streets,  stones  carried  to  the  tops  of  the 
houses  and  the  temples,  and  that  Mexican 
troops  were  secretly  drawing  near.  The  fatal 
hour  was  at  hand,  and  escape  impossible. 

The  energy  of  Cortez  was  now  roused.  Qui- 
etly he  drew  up  the  Spanish  and  Zempoallan 
troops,  armed  to  the  teeth,  in  the  heart  of  the 
city.  He  sent  a secret  order  to  the  Tlascalans 
to  approach,  and,  at  a given  signal,  to  fall  upon 
the  surprised  and  unarmed  Cholulans,  and  cut 
them  down  without  mercy.  He  then,  upon  a 
friendly  pretext,  sent  for  the  magistrates  of  the 
city  and  all  the  principal  nobles.  They  were 
immediately  assembled,  and  the  signal  for  mas- 
sacre was  given. 

The  poor  natives,  taken  entirely  by  surprise, 
rushed  in  dismay  this  "way  and  that,  encounter- 
ing death  at  every  corner.  The  Tlascalans, 
like  hungry  wolves,  swept  through  the  streets, 
glutting  themselves  with  blood.  It  was  with 
them  the  carnival  of  insatiable  revenge.  The 
dwellings  were  sacked  piteously,  and  the  city 


160  Hernando  Cortez. 

Destruction  of  Cholula.  Proclamation  offering  pardon 

every  where  kindled  into  flame.  Women  and 
children  were  seized  by  the  merciless  Tlasca- 
lans  to  grace  their  triumph,  and  to  bleed  upon 
their  altars  of  human  sacrifice.  For  two  days 
this  horrid  scene  continued.  At  last,  from  ex- 
haustion, the  carnage  ceased.  The  city  was  re- 
duced to  smouldering  ruins,  and  pools  of  blood 
and  mutilated  carcases  polluted  the  streets. 
The  wail  of  the  wretched  survivors,  homeless 
and  friendless,  rose  to  the  ear  of  Heaven  more 
dismal  than  the  piercing  shriek  of  anguish 
which  is  silenced  by  death.  The  argument 
with  which  Cortez  defends  this  outrage  is  very 
laconic : 

“ Had  I not  done  this  to  them,  they  would 
have  done  the  same  to  me.” 

Such  is  war — congenial  employment  only  for 
fiends.  It  is  Satan’s  work,  and  can  be  efficient- 
ly prosecuted  only  by  Satan’s  instruments. 
Six  thousand  Cholulans  were  slain  in  this  aw- 
ful massacre.  The  Spaniards  wTere  now  suffi- 
ciently avenged.  Cortez  issued  a proclamation 
offering  pardon  to  all  who  had  escaped  the  mas- 
sacre, and  inviting  them  to  return  to  their 
smouldering  homes.  Slowly  they  returned, 
women  and  children,  from  the  mountains  where 
they  had  fled  ; some,  who  had  feigned  death. 


massacre  in  ciiolula. 


L 


The  March  to  Mexico.  163 


Appointment  of  the  new  cacique.  Public  thanksgivings. 

crept  from  beneath  the  bodies  of  the  slain,  and 
others  emerged  from  hiding-places  in  their  dev- 
astated dwellings.  The  cacique  of  the  Cholu- 
lans  had  been  killed  in  the  general  slaughter. 
Cortez  appointed  a brother  of  the  late  cacique 
to  rule  over  the  city,  and,  in  apparently  a sin- 
cere proclamation,  informed  the  bereaved  and 
miserable  survivors  that  it  was  with  the  great- 
est sorrow  that  he  had  found  himself  compelled 
by  their  treachery  to  this  terrible  punishment. 
The  Tlascalans,  glutted  with  the  blood  of  their 
ancient  foes,  were  compelled  to  surrender  all 
their  prisoners,  for  Cortez  would  allow  of  no  hu- 
man sacrifices. 

Cortez  thought  that  the  natives  were  now  in 
a very  suitable  frame  of  mind  for  his  peculiar 
kind  of  conversion.  They  were  truly  very  pli- 
ant. No  resistance  was  offered  to  the  Spanish 
soldiers  as  they  tumbled  the  idols  out  of  the 
temples,  and  reared  in  their  stead  the  cross  and 
the  image  of  the  Virgin.  Public  thanksgivings 

were  then  offered  to  God  in  the  purified  temples 
of  the  heathen  for  the  victory  he  had  vouchsafed, 
and  mass  was  celebrated  by  the  whole  army. 

In  the  year  1842,  Hon.  Waddy  Thompson 
passed  over  the  plain  where  once  stood  the  city 
of  Cholula.  He  thus  describes  it : 


164 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Statement  of  Mr.  Thompson.  Cortez  resumes  his  marcli  toward  Mexico 

“ The  great  city  of  Cholula  was  situated 
about  six  miles  from  the  present  city  of  Puebla. 
It  was  here  the  terrible  slaughter  was  commit- 
ted which  has  left  the  deepest  stain  upon  the 
otherwise  glorious  and  wonderful  character  of 
Cortez.  Not  a vestige — literally  none — not  a 
brick  or  a stone  standing  upon  another,  remains 
of  this  immense  city  except  the  great  pyramid, 
which  still  stands  in  gloomy  and  solitary  gran- 
deur in  the  vast  plain  which  surrounds  it,  and 
there  it  will  stand  forever.  This  pyramid  is 
built  of  unburned  bricks.  Its  dimensions,  as 
given  by  Humboldt,  are,  base,  1440  feet ; pres- 
ent height,  177  ; area  on  the  summit,  45,210 
square  feet.  A Catholic  chapel  now  crowns 
the  summit  of  this  immense  mound,  the  sides 
of  which  are  covered  with  grass  and  small  trees. 
As  seen  for  miles  along  the  road,  an  artificial 
mountain,  standing  in  the  solitude  of  a vast 
plain,  it  is  a most  imposing  and  beautiful  ob- 
ject.” 

After  the  delay  of  a fortnight,  Cortez  resumed 
his  march  toward  the  capital  of  Mexico,  which 
was  now  distant  from  him  but  twenty  leagues. 
It  was  now  the  29th  of  October.  The  tidings 
of  the  horrible  retribution  which  had  fallen  upon 
Cholula  spread  far  and  wide,  and  it  accomplish- 


The  March  to  Mexico.  165 


Terror  of  Montezuma.  Cortez’s  message  to  the  monarch. 

ed  its  end  in  preventing  any  farther  manifesta- 
tions of  hostility.  City  after  city,  appalled  by 
this  exhibition  of  the  vengeance  of  those  foes 
who  wielded  the  thunder  and  the  lightning  of 
heaven,  and  who,  with  the  dreadful  war-horse, 
could  overtake  the  swiftest  foe,  sent  in  the  most 
humble  messages  of  submission,  with  accom- 
panying presents,  to  propitiate  the  favor  of  the 
terrible  invaders. 

Montezuma,  as  he  was  informed  of  the  fate 
of  Cholula,  turned  pale  upon  his  throne,  and 
trembled  in  every  fibre.  He  dreaded  unspeak- 
ably to  have  the  Spaniards  enter  his  capital, 
and  yet  he  dared  not  undertake  to  oppose  them. 
Cortez  sent  embassadors  before  him  to  the  cap- 
ital with  the  following  message  to  Montezuma : 

“ The  Cholulans  have  asserted  that  Monte- 
zuma instigated  their  treachery.  I will  not  be- 
lieve it.  Montezuma  is  a great  and  a powerful 
sovereign ; he  would  make  war  in  the  open 
field,  and  not  by  cowardly  stratagem.  The 
Spaniards,  however,  are  ready  for  any  warfare, 
secret  or  open.” 

This  was  bold  defiance.  Montezuma  super- 
stitiously  read  in  it  the  decree  of  fate  announc- 
ing his  doom.  He  returned  an  answer  solemn- 
ly declaring  that  he  had  no  part  in  the  guilt  of 


166 


Hernando  Cortez. 


His  answer.  Appearance  of  discontent.  Arrival  at  Ithualco. 

the  Cholulans,  and  renewedly  inviting  Cortez 
to  visit  his  city. 

The  country  through  which  the  adventurers 
passed  became  increasingly  populous,  luxuriant, 
and  beautiful.  They  were  continually  met  by 
embassies  from  the  different  cities  on  or  near 
their  route,  endeavoring  to  propitiate  their  favor 
by  protestations  of  allegiance  and  gifts  of  gold. 
They  also  perceived  many  indications  of  discon- 
tent with  the  reign  of  Montezuma,  which  en- 
couraged Cortez  greatly  in  his  expectation  of 
being  able  to  overturn  the  empire,  by  availing 
himself  of  the  alienation  existing  in  its  constitu- 
ent parts.  Multitudes  of  the  disaffected  joined 
the  army  of  Cortez,  where  they  were  all  warm- 
ly welcomed.  “Thus,”  says  Clavigero,  “the 
farther  the  Spaniards  advanced  into  the  coun- 
try, the  more  they  continued  to  increase  their 
forces ; like  a rivulet  which,  by  the  accession 
of  other  streams,  swells  in  its  course  into  a large 
river.” 

For  several  days  they  toiled  resolutely  along, 
“ recommending,”  says  Diaz,  “ our  souls  to  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  had  brought  us  through 
our  past  dangers,”  until,  from  the  heights  of 
Ithualco,  they  looked  down  over  the  majestic, 
the  enchanting  valley  of  Mexico.  A more  per- 


FIRST  VIEW  OF  THE  MEXICAN  CAPITA! 


The  March  to  Mexico.  169 


View  from  the  heights.  Cortez  resolves  to  continue  his  march 

fectly  lovely  scene  lias  rarely  greeted  human 
eyes.  In  the  far  distance  could  be  discerned, 
through  the  transparent  atmosphere,  the  dim 
blue  outline  of  the  mountains  by  which  the  al- 
most boundless  basin  of  Mexico  wras  girdled. 
Forests  and  rivers,  orchards  and  lakes,  culti- 
vated fields  and  beautiful  villages  adorned  the 
landscape.  The  magnificent  city  of  Mexico 
was  situated,  in  queenly  splendor,  upon  islands 
in  the  bosom  of  a series  of  lakes  more  than  a 
hundred  miles  in  length.  Innumerable  towns, 
with  their  lofty  temples,  and  white,  picturesque 
dwellings,  fringed  the  margin  of  the  crystal  wa- 
ters. The  circumference  of  the  valley  girdled 
by  the  mountains  wras  nearly  two  hundred  miles. 

The  Spaniards  gazed  upon  the  enchanting 
scene  with  amazement,  and  many  of  them  with 
alarm.  They  sawr  indications  of  civilization 
and  of  powTer  far  beyond  what  they  had  antici- 
pated. Cortez,  however,  relying  upon  the  effi- 
ciency of  gunpowder,  and  also  deeming  himself 
invincible  while  the  sacred  banner  of  the  cross 
waved  over  his  army,  marched  boldly  on.  The 
love  of  plunder  "was  a latent  motive  omnipotent 
in  his  soul,  and  he  saw  undreamed  of  wealth 
lavishly  spread  before  him.  Though  Cortez 
was,  at  this  period  of  his  life,  a stranger  to  the 


170 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Vacillation  of  Montezuma.  Description  of  the  valley  ol  Mexico. 

sordid  vice  of  avarice,  lie  coveted  intensely 
boundless  wealth,  to  be  profusely  distributed  in 
advancing  his  great  plans.* 

Montezuma  was  continually  vacillating  as  to 
the  course  to  be  pursued.  At  one  hour  he  would 
resolve  to  marshal  his  armies,  and  fall,  if  fall 
he  must,  gloriously,  amid  the  ruins  of  his  em- 
pire. The  next  hour  timidity  would  be  in  the 
ascendant,  and  a new  embassy  would  be  sent 
to  Cortez,  with  courteous  speeches  and  costly 

* Hon.  Waddy  Thompson  thus  describes  the  appearance 
of  the  great  valley  of  Mexico  at  the  present  time.  “ The  road 
passes  within  about  twenty  miles  of  the  mountain  of  Poco- 
catapetl,  the  highest  point  of  the  territory  of  Mexico  ; but  the 
brightness  of  the  atmosphere,  and  a tropical  sun  shining  upon 
the  snow  with  which  it  is  always  covered,  makes  the  distance 
seem  very  much  shorter — not,  indeed,  more  than  one  or  two 
miles.  In  descending  the  mountain,  at  about  the  distance  of 
twenty-five  miles  the  first  glimpse  is  caught  of  the  city  and 
valley  of  Mexico.  No  description  can  convey  to  the  reader 
any  adequate  idea  of  the  effect  upon  one  wrho,  for  the  first 
time,  beholds  that  magnificent  prospect.  With  what  feelings 
must  Cortez  have  regarded  it  when  he  first  saw  it  from  the 
top  of  the  mountain  between  the  snow-covered  volcanoes  ot 
Pococatapetl  and  Iztaccihuatl,  a short  distance  to  the  left  of 
where  the  road  now  runs  ! The  valley  was  not  then,  as  it  is 
now,  for  the  greater  part  a barren  waste,  but  was  studded  all 
over  with  the  homes  of  men,  containing  more  than  forty  cities, 
besides  towns  and  villages  without  number.  Never  has  such 
a vision  burst  upon  the  eyes  of  mortal  man  since  that  upon 
which  the  seer  of  old  looked  down  from  Pisgah.” 


The  March  to  Mexico.  171 


Offers  from  Montezuma.  Satisfaction  of  Cortez.  His  answer. 

gifts.  The  unhappy  monarch,  in  his  despair, 
had  gone  to  one  of  the  most  sacred  of  the  sanc- 
tuaries of  the  empire  to  mourn  and  to  pray. 
Here  he  passed  eight  days  in  the  performance 
of  all  the  humiliating  and  penitential  rites  of  his 
religion.  But  each  day  Cortez  drew  nearer,  and 
the  crowds  accumulating  around  him  increased. 

The  spirit  of  Montezuma  was  now  so  crush- 
ed that  he  sent  an  embassy  to.  Cortez  offering 
him  four  loads  of  gold  for  himself,  and  one  for 
each  of  his  captains,  and  he  also  promised  to 
pay  a yearly  tribute  to  the  King  of  Spain,  if 
the  dreaded  conqueror  would  turn  back.  This 
messenger  met  the  Spanish  army  upon  the 
heights  of  Ithualco,  as  they  were  gazing  with 
admiration  upon  the  goodly  land  spread  out  be- 
fore them.  Cortez  listened  with  much  secret 
satisfaction  to  this  messenger,  as  an  indication 
of  the  weakness  and  the  fear  of  the  great  mon- 
arch. Returning  the  laconic  answer,  “ I must 
see  Montezuma,  and  deliver  to  him  personally 
the  message  of  the  emperor  my  master,”  he 
more  eagerly  pressed  on  his  way. 

Montezuma  received  this  response  as  the 
doom  decreed  to  him  by  fate.  “ Of  what  avail,” 
the  unhappy  monarch  is  reported  to  have  said, 
“ is  resistance,  when  the  gods  have  declared 


172 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Arrival  at  Amaquemecan.  Profuse  hospitality.  Ayotzingo 

themselves  against  us  ? Yet  I mourn  most  for 
the  old  and  infirm,  the  women  and  children,  too 
feeble  to  fight  or  to  fly.  For  myself  and  the 
brave  men  around  me,  we  must  bare  our  breast3 
to  the  storm,  and  meet  it  as  we  may.” 

The  Spaniards  had  now  arrived  at  the  city 
of  Amaquemecan.  They  were  received  by  the 
principal  inhabitants  of  the  place  with  an  os- 
tentatious display  of  courtesy  and  friendship. 
Two  very  large  stone  buildings  were  provided 
for  their  accommodation.  This  profuse  hospi- 
tality was  excited  by  terror.  After  resting 
here  two  days,  Cortez  resumed  his  march. 
Their  path  still  led  through  smiling  villages 
and  fields  of  maize,  and  through  gardens  bloom- 
ing with  gorgeous  flowers,  which  the  natives 
cultivated  with  religious  and  almost  passionate 
devotion. 

. At  last  they  arrived  at  Ayotzingo — the  Ven- 
ice of  the  New  World — an  important  town, 
built  on  wooden  piles  in  the  waters  of  Lake 
Chaleo.  Gondolas  of  every  variety  of  color, 
and  of  graceful  structure,  glided  through  the 
liquid  streets.  The  main  body  of  the  Spanish 
army  encamped  outside  of  the  city.  A vast 
concourse  of  the  natives  flocked  to  the  camp. 
Cortez  became  suspicious  of  premeditated  treach- 


The  March  to  Mexico.  173 


Lake  Chaleo.  Cuitlahuac.  Immense  crowd. 

ery,  and  fifteen  or  twenty  of  the  natives  were 
heartlessly  shot  down,  as  an  intimidation.  The 
terrified  Indians  did  not  venture  to  resent  this 
cruel  requital  of  their  hospitality. 

After  remaining  here  two  days,  the  march 
was  again  resumed  along  the  southern  shores 
of  Lake  Chaleo.  Clusters  of  villages,  embow- 
ered in  luxuriant  foliage,  and  crimson  with 
flowers,  fringed  the  lake.  The  waters  were 
covered  with  the  light  boats  of  the  natives, 
gliding  in  every  direction.  At  last  they  came 
to  a narrow  dike  or  causeway,  five  miles  long, 
and  so  narrow  that  but  two  or  three  horsemen 
could  ride  abreast.  In  the  middle  of  this  cause- 
way, which  separated  Lake  Chaleo  from  Lake 
Xochicalco,  was  built  the  town  of  Cuitlahuac, 
which  Cortez  described  as  the  most  beautiful  he 
had  yet  seen.  Before  the  mansions  of  the  prin- 
cipal inhabitants  there  were  lawns  ornamented 
with  trees  and  shrubbery.  Temples  and  lofty 
towers  rose  in  much  majesty  of  architecture. 
Floating  gardens  were  constructed  on  the  lake, 
and  innumerable  boats,  plied  by  the  strong  arms 
of  the  native  rowers,  almost  covered  the  placid 
waters.  As  the  Spaniards  marched  along  this 
narrow  causeway,  the  crowd  became  so  immense 
that  Cortez  was  obliged  to  resort  to  threats  of 


174  Hernando  Cortez. 

They  enter  Iztapalapan.  Appearance  of  the  city.  Reception  of  Cortez. 

violence  to  force  liis  way.  The  place  was  so 
very  favorable  for  the  natives  to  make  an  as- 
sault, that  Cortez  conducted  the  march  with  the 
utmost  possible  vigilance,  and  commanded  the 
Indians  not  to  come  near  his  ranks  unless  they 
chose  to  be  regarded  as  enemies.  The  ad- 
venturers were,  however,  received  in  Cuitlahuac 
with  the  utmost  kindness,  and  all  their  wants 
were  abundantly  supplied. 

When  they  had  crossed  the  narrow  cause- 
way, and  had  arrived  on  the  other  side  of  the 
lake,  they  entered  the  city  of  Iztapalapan,  which 
contained,  according  to  their  estimate,  about 
fifteen  thousand  houses.  The  city  was  in  the 
near  vicinity  of  the  capital.  The  natives,  with 
refinement  and  taste  not  yet  equaled  by  the 
money-making  millions  of  North  America,  had 
allotted  land  in  the  centre  of  the  city  for  a vast 
public  garden,  blooming  with  flowers  of  every 
variety  of  splendor.  A large  aviary  was  filled 
with  birds  of  gorgeous  plumage  and  sweet  song. 
A stone  reservoir,  of  ample  dimensions,  contain- 
ed water  to  irrigate  the  grounds,  and  it  was  also 
abundantly  stored  with  fish.  Many  of  the 
chiefs  of  the  neighboring  cities  had  assembled 
here  to  meet  Cortez.  They  received  him  with 
courtesy,  with  hospitality,  but  with  reserve.  He 


The  March  to  Mexico.  175 


The  procession.  The  causeway.  Arrival  of  the  Emperor. 

was  now  but  a few  miles  from  the  renowned 
metropolis  of  Montezuma,  and  the  turrets  of  the 
lofty  temples  of  idolatry  which  embellished  the 
capital  glittered  in  the  sunlight  before  him. 

Another  night  passed  away,  and,  as  another 
morning  dawned,  the  Spanish  army  was  again 
on  the  march.  It  was  the  8th  of  November, 
1519.  When  they  drew  near  the  city,  they 
were  first  met  by  a procession  of  a thousand  of 
the  principal  inhabitants,  adorned  with  waving 
plumes,  and  clad  in  finely-embroidered  mantles. 
They  announced  that  their  renowned  Emperor 
Montezuma  was  advancing  to  welcome  the 
strangers.  They  were  now  upon  the  causeway 
which  led  from  the  main  land  to  the  island  city. 
The  long  and  narrow  way  was  thronged  with 
crowds  which  could  not  be  numbered,  while  on 
each  side  the  lake  was  darkened  with  boats. 
Soon  the  glittering  train  of  the  emperor  appear- 
ed in  the  distance. 

Montezuma  was  accompanied  by  the  highest 
possible  pomp  of  semi-barbarian  etiquette  and 
splendor.  He  was  seated  in  a gorgeous  palan- 
quin, waving  with  plumes  and  glittering  with 
gold,  and  was  borne  on  the  shoulders  of  four 
noblemen.  Three  officers,  each  holding  a gold- 
en rod,  walked  before  him.  Others  supported 


176 


Hernando*  Cortez. 


Appearance  of  Montezuma.  Meeting  of  the  emperor  and  the  marauder 

over  his  head,  by  four  posts,  to  shelter  him 
from  the  sun,  a canopy  of  beautiful  workman- 
ship,  richly  embellished  with  green  feathers,  and 
gold,  and  precious  gems.  The  monarch  wore 
upon  his  head  a golden  crown,  surmounted  by 
a rich  head-dress  of  plumes.  A mantle,  richly 
embroidered  with  the  most  costly  ornaments, 
was  folded  gracefully  upon  his  shoulders.  Bus- 
kins, fringed  with  gold,  fitted  closely  to  his  legs, 
and  the  soles  of  his  shoes  were  of  gold.  He 
was  tall,  well  formed,  and  a peculiarly  handsome 
man. 

As  the  monarch  drew  near,  Cortez  dismount- 
ed, and  advanced  on  foot  to  meet  him.  At  the 
same  time  Montezuma  alighted  from  his  palan- 
quin, and,  leaning  upon  the  arms  of  two  of  the 
highest  members  of  his  court,  with  great  dig- 
nity approached  his  dreaded  guest.  His  at- 
tendants in  the  mean  time  spread  before  their 
monarch  rich  carpets,  that  his  sacred  feet  might 
not  come  in  contact  with  the  ground.  An  ex- 
pression of  anxiety  and  of  deep  melancholy 
overspread  the  countenance  of  the  sovereign. 

The  Mexican  emperor  and  the  Spanish  ma- 
rauder met  in  the  interchange  of  all  Mexican 
and  Castilian  courtesies.  After  the  exchange 
of  a few  words,  the  whole  blended  cortege  march- 


THE  MEETING  OF  CORTEZ  AND  MONTEZUMA 


The  March  to  Mexico.  179 

Cortez  conducted  to  his  quarters.  His  accommodations. 

ed  through  the  immense  crowd,  which  opened 
before  them,  and  entered  the  imperial  city. 
“Who,”  exclaims  Diaz,  “could  count  the  num- 
ber of  men,  women,  and  children  which  throng- 
ed the  streets,  the  canals,  and  terraces  on  the 
tops  of  the  houses  on  that  day  ? The  whole  of 
what  I saw  on  this  occasion  is  so  strongly  im- 
printed on  my  memory  that  it  appears  to  me  as 
if  it  had  happened  only  yesterday.  Glory  to 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  gave  us  courage  to 
venture  upon  such  dangers,  and  brought  us 
safely  through  them.” 

Montezuma  himself  conducted  Cortez  to  the 
quarters  which  he  had  prepared  for  his  recep- 
tion in  the  heart  of  the  metropolis.  With  re- 
finement of  politeness  which  would  have  done 
honor  to  the  court  of  Louis  XIV.,  he  said,  on 
retiring, 

“You  are  now,  with  your  brothers,  in  your 
own  house.  Refresh  yourselves  after  your  fa- 
tigue, and  be  happy  until  I return.” 

The  spot  assigned  to  the  Spaniards  was  an 
immense  palace,  or,  rather,  range  of  mansions, 
in  the  very  centre  of  the  metropolis,  erected  by 
the  father  of  Montezuma.  The  buildings  in- 
closed an  immense  court-yard.  The  whole  wTas 
surrounded  by  a strong  stone  wall,  surmounted 


180 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Size  and  comfort  of  the  mansion.  Vigilance  of  Cortez. 

with  towers  for  defense  and  ornament.  Cortez 
could  not  have  constructed  for  himself  a more 
admirable  citadel  for  the  accomplishment  of  his 
ambitious  and  violent  purposes.  The  apart- 
ment assigned  to  the  Spanish  chieftain  was  tap- 
estried with  the  finest  embroidered  cotton.  The 
rooms  and  courts  were  so  large  as  to  afford 
ample  accommodations  for  the  whole  Spanish 
army. 

“ This  edifice  was  so  large,”  writes  one  of  the 
historians  of  that  day,  “ that  both  the  Spaniards 
and  their  allies,  who,  together  with  the  women 
and  the  servants  whom  they  brought  with  them, 
exceeded  seven  thousand  in  number,  were  lodged 
in  it.  Every  where  there  was  the  greatest 
cleanliness  and  neatness.  Almost  all  the  cham- 
bers had  beds  of  mats,  of  rushes,  and  of  palm, 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  people,  and  oth- 
er mats,  in  a round  form,  for  pillows.  They 
had  coverlets  of  fine  cotton,  and  chairs  made  of 
single  pieces  of  wood.  Some  of  the  chambers 
were  also  carpeted  with  mats,  and  the  walls 
were  hung  with  tapestry  beautifully  colored.” 

Cortez,  with  vigilance  which  never  slept,  im- 
mediately fortified  his  quarters,  so  as  to  guard 
against  any  possible  surprise.  Artillery  was 
planted  to  sweep  every  avenue.  Sentinels 


The  March  to  Mexico.  181 


Presents  to  Cortez.  The  conference.  The  tradition. 

were  posted  at  important  points,  with  orders  to 
observe  the  same  diligence  by  night  and  by  day 
as  if  they  were  in  the  midst  of  hostile  armies. 
A large  division  of  the  troops  was  always  on 
guard,  prepared  for  every  possible  emergency. 

In  the  evening,  Montezuma  returned,  with 
great  pomp,  to  visit  his  terrible  guests,  and  to 
inquire  if  they  were  provided  with  every  thing 
which  could  promote  their  comfort.  He  brought 
with  him  presents  of  great  value  for  Cortez  and 
his  officers,  and  also  for  each  one  of  the  privates 
in  the  Spanish  camp.  A long  conference  en- 
sued, during  which  Montezuma  betrayed  his 
apprehension  that  the  Spaniards  were  the  con- 
querors indicated  by  tradition  and  prophecy  as 
decreed  to  overthrow  the  Mexican  power.  Cor- 
tez artfully  endeavored  to  frame  his  reply  so  as 
to  encourage  this  illusion.  He  expatiated  at 
great  length  upon  the  wealth  and  the  resistless 
power  of  the  emperor  whom  he  served.  “ My 
master  wishes,”  said  he,  “to  alter  certain  laws 
and  customs  in  this  kingdom,  and  particularly 
to  present  to  you  a religion  far  superior  to  the 
bloody  creed  of  Mexico.”  He  then,  with  great 
earnestness,  unfolded  to  the  respectful  monarch 
the  principal  doctrines  of  Christianity — the  one 
living  and  true  God — the  advent  of  the  Savior, 


182  Hernando  Cortez. 

Montezuma  urged  to  accept  the  Christian  faith. 

his  atonement,  and  salvation  through  faith  in 
him — the  rites  of  baptism  and  of  the  Lord's 
Supper — the  eternal  rewards  of  the  righteous, 
and  the  unending  woes  of  the  wicked.  To 
these  remarks  Cortez  added  an  indignant  re- 
monstrance against  the  abomination  of  human 
sacrifices,  and  of  eating  the  flesh  of  the  wretch- 
ed victims.  By  way  of  application  to  this  ser- 
mon, which  was  truthful  in  its  main  sentiments, 
and  unquestionably  sincere,  this  most  singular 
of  missionaries  called  out  the  artillery.  We 
would  not  speak  lightly  of  sacred  things  in 
stating;  the  fact  that  Cortez  considered  gun- 
powder  as  one  of  the  most  important  of  the 
means  of  grace.  He  judged  that  the  thunder 
of  his  cannon,  reverberating  through  the  streets 
of  the  astounded  capital,  would  exert  a salutary 
influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  natives,  and 
produce  that  pliancy  of  spirit,  that  child-like  hu- 
mility, so  essential  both  to  voluntary  and  in- 
voluntary conversion.  The  most  important 
truth  and  the  most  revolting  falsehood  here  be- 
wilderingly  meet  and  blend. 

The  sun  had  now  gone  down,  and  the  short 
twilight  was  fading  away  into  the  darkness  of 
the  night,  when,  at  a given  signal,  every  can- 
non was  discharged.  The  awful  roar  rolled 


The  March  to  Mexico.  183 


The  argument.  Achievements  of  the  Spaniards. 

through  the  streets  of  the  metropolis,  and  froze 
the  hearts  of  the  people  with  terror.  Were 
these  strange  beings,  they  inquired  among  them- 
selves, who  thus  wielded  the  heaviest  thunders 
of  heaven,  gods  or  demons  ? Volley  after  vol- 
ley, in  appalling  peals,  burst  from  the  city,  and 
resounded  over  the  silent  lake.  Dense  volumes 
of  suffocating  smoke,  scarcely  moved  by  the 
tranquil  air,  settled  down  upon  the  streets.  Si- 
lence ensued.  The  voice  of  Cortez  had  been 
heard  in  tones  never  to  be  forgotten.  The  stars 
came  out  in  the  serene  sky,  and  a brilliant 
tropical  night  enveloped  in  its  folds  the  fearless 
Spaniard  and  the  trembling  Mexican. 

It  was  the  night  of  the  8th  of  November. 
But  seven  months  had  elapsed  since  the  Span- 
iards landed  in  the  country.  The  whole  Span- 
ish force,  exclusive  of  the  natives  whom  they 
had  induced  to  join  them,  consisted  of  but  four 
hundred  and  fifty  men.  They  were  now  two 
hundred  miles  from  the  coast,  in  the  very  heart 
of  an  empire  numbering  many  millions,  and  by 
sagacity,  courage,  and  cruelty,  they  had  suc- 
ceeded in  bringing  both  monarch  and  people 
into  almost  entire  submission  to  their  sway. 
The  genius  of  romance  can  narrate  few  tales 
more  marvelous. 


184 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  ride  through  Tenochtitlan 


Visit  to  the  market-place 


Chapter  VII. 

The  Metropolis  Invaded. 

HE  next  morning,  Cortez,  with  a showy 


retinue  of  horsemen,  prancing  through 
streets  upon  which  hoof  had  never  before  trod- 
den, called  upon  the  emperor.  The  streets 
were  lined,  and  the  roofs  of  the  houses  crowded 
with  multitudes  gazing  upon  the  amazing  spec- 
tacle. The  Spanish  chieftain  was  kindly  re-, 
ceived  by  the  emperor,  and  three  days  were  ap- 
pointed to  introduce  him  to  all  the  objects  of 
interest  in  the  capital.  Tenochtitlan  was  the 
native  name  by  which  the  imperial  city  was  then 
known. 

They  first  visited  the  great  public  square  or 
market-place.  An  immense  concourse  was  here 
assembled,  engaged  in  peaceful  traffic.  Three 
judges  sat  in  state  at  the  end  of  the  square, 
to  settle  all  difficulties.  A numerous  body  of  po- 
lice, ever  moving  through  the  crowd,  prevented 
all  riot  or  confusion.  Though  there  were  many 
other  minor  market-places  scattered  through 
the  city,  this  was  the  principal  one. 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  185 


The  pyramidal  temple.  View  from  the  summit. 

Cortez  then  expressed  the  wish  that  he  might 
be  conducted  to  the  great  pyramidal  temple, 
which  reared  its  lofty  structure  from  the  heart 
of  the  city.  The  summit  of  the  pyramid  was 
an  extended  plain,  where  several  hundred  priests 
could  officiate  in  sacrifice.  The  corners  of  the 
area  were  ornamented  with  towers.  One  hund- 
red and  fourteen  steps  led  to  the  summit  of  the 
temple.  Several  large  altars  stood  here,  be- 
smeared with  the  blood  of  human  sacrifices,  and 
there  was  also  a hideous  image  of  a dragon  pol- 
luted with  gore. 

From  this  towering  eminence  the  whole  ad- 
jacent country  lay  spread  out  before  the  eye 
of  Cortez  in  surpassing  loveliness.  Gardens, 
groves,  villages,  waving  fields  of  grain,  and  the 
wide  expanse  of  the  placid  lakes,  covered  with 
boats  gliding  rapidly  over  the  mirrored  waters, 
presented  a scene  of  beauty  which  excited  the 
enthusiasm  of  Cortez  to  the  highest  pitch.  They 
then  entered  the  sanctuaries  of  the  temple,  where 
human  hearts  were  smoking,  and  almost  throb- 
bing, upon  the  altars  before  the  revolting  im- 
ages of  their  gods.  On  the  summit  of  the  tem- 
ple there  was  an  enormous  drum  or  gong,  which 
was  struck  when  the  miserable  victim  was 
shrieking  beneath  the  knife  of  sacrifice.  Its 


186 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  gong.  Indignation  of  Cortez.  The  chapel. 

doleful  tones,  it  was  said,  floating  over  the  still 
waters  of  the  lake,  could  be  heard  at  the  dis- 
tance of  many  miles. 

From  these  sickening  scenes  Cortez1  turned 
away  in  disgust,  and  exclaimed  indignantly  to 
Montezuma, 

“ How  can  you,  wise  and  powerful  as  you 
are,  put  trust  in  such  representatives  of  the 
devil?  Why  do  you  allow  your  people  to  be 
butchered  before  these  abominable  idols  ? Let 
me  place  here  the  cross,  and  the  image  of  the 
blessed  Virgin  and  of  her  Son,  and  the  influ- 
ence of  these  detestable  idols  will  soon  vanish.” 

Montezuma,  shocked  by  words  which  he 
deemed  so  blasphemous,  and  dreading  the  swift 
vengeance  of  the  gods,  hurried  his  irreverent 
guest  away. 

“Go,”  said  he,  “go  hence,  I entreat  you, 
while  I remain  to  appease,  if  possible,  the  wrath 
of  the  gods  whom  you  have  so  dreadfully  pro- 
voked.” 

But  these  scenes  aroused  anew  the  religious 
zeal  of  Cortez  and  his  companions.  As  they 
returned  to  their  lodgings,  they  immediately 
converted  one  of  the  halls  of  their  residence  into 
a Christian  chapel.  Here  the  rites  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  Church  were  introduced,  and  the 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  187 


General  appearance  of  the  city. 

whole  army  of  Cortez,  with  soldierly  devotion, 
attended  mass  every  day.  Good  Father  Olme- 
do,  with  perhaps  a clouded  intellect,  hut  with 
that  recognition  of  the  universal  brotherhood  of 
man  which  sincere  piety  ever  confers,  prayed 
fervently  for  God’s  blessing  upon  his  frail  chil- 
dren of  every  name  and  nation. 

The  Spaniards  estimated  the  population  of 
the  city  at  about  five  hundred  thousand.  The 
streets  were  very  regularly  laid  out  at  right  an- 
gles. Many  of  them  were  wride,  and  lined  with 
shade-trees.  The  houses  of  the  common  peo- 
ple -were  small  but  comfortable  cottages,  built 
of  reeds  or  of  bricks  baked  in  the  sun.  The 
dwellings  of  the  nobles  and  of  the  more  wealthy 
inhabitants  Avere  strongly-built  mansions  of 
stone,  very  extensive  on  the  ground  floor,  though 
generally  but  one  story  high.  They  were  in- 
closed in  gardens  blooming  with  flowers.  Fount- 
ains  of  cool  water,  conveyed  through  earthen 
* pipes,  played  in  the  court-yards.  The  police 
regulations  were  unsurpassed  by  those  of  any 
city  in  Europe.  A thousand  persons  were  con- 
tinually employed  in  sweeping  and  watering 
the  streets.  So  clean  were  the  vrell-cement- 
ed  pavements  kept,  that  “a  man  could  walk 
through  the  streets,”  says  one  of  the  Spanish 


188 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Apprehension  from  the  natives.  The  Tlascalans  anxious  for  war. 

historians,  “ with  as  little  danger  of  soiling  his 
feet  as  his  hands.” 

Day  after  day  was  passed  in  the  interchange 
of  visits,  and  in  the  careful  examination  by 
Cortez  of  the  strength  and  the  resources  of  the 
city.  He  had  now  been  a week  in  the  capital, 
and  the  question  naturally  arose,  What  is  next 
to  be  done  ? He  was,  indeed,  perplexed  to  de- 
cide this  question.  Montezuma  treated  him 
with  such  extraordinary  hospitality,  supplying 
all  his  wants,  and  leaving  him  at  perfect  liberty, 
that  it  was  difficult  for  one,  who  laid  any  claim 
whatever  to  a conscience,  to  find  occasion  to 
pick  a quarrel.  To  remain  inactive,  merely  en- 
joying the  luxury  of  a most  hospitable  enter- 
tainment, was  not  only  accomplishing  nothing, 
but  was  also  enervating  the  army.  It  was  also 
to  be  apprehended  that  the  Mexicans  would 
gradually  regain  their  courage  as  they  counted 
the  small  number  of  the  invaders,  and  fall  upon 
them  with  resistless  power. 

The  Tlascalans,  who  had  rioted  in  blood  at 
Cholula,  seemed  anxious  for  a renewal  of  that 
scene  of  awful  butchery  in  the  streets  of  Mex- 
ico. They  assured  Cortez  that  he  had  every 
thing  to  fear  from  the  treachery  of  Montezuma  ; 
that  he  had  lured  them  into  the  city  but  to  in- 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  189 


The  trap.  Situation  of  the  city- 

close  them  in  a trap ; that  the  drawbridges  of 
the  causeways  need  but  be  removed,  and  escape 
for  the  Spaniards  would  be  impossible.  They 
assured  him  that  the  Mexican  priests  had  coun- 
seled Montezuma,  in  the  name  of  the  gods,  to 
admit  the  strangers  into  the  capital  that  he 
might  cut  them  off  at  a blow.  It  was  obvious, 
even  to  the  meanest  soldier,  that  all  this  might 
be  true,  and  that  they  were  in  reality  in  a trap 
from  which  it  would  be  exceedingly  difficult  to 
extricate  themselves,  should  the  Mexicans  mani- 
fest any  resolute  hostility. 

On  the  east  the  island  city  had  no  connection 
with  the  main  land,  and  could  only  be  approach- 
ed over  the  broad  waters  of  the  lake  by  canoes. 
On  the  west  the  city  was  entered  by  an  artifi- 
cial causeway,  built  of  earth  and  stone,  a mile 
and  a half  in  length,  and  but  thirty  feet  in 
breadth.  A similar  causeway  on  the  northwest, 
three  miles  long,  connected  the  city  with  the 
main  land.  There  was  another  causeway  on 
the  south,  six  miles  long.  There  were  many 
openings  along  these  causeways,  through  which 
the  waters  of  the  lake  flowed  unimpeded.  These 
openings  were  bridged  over  by  means  of  tim- 
ber. The  destruction  of  these  bridges,  which 
might  be  accomplished  at  any  hour,  would  ren- 


190 


Hernando  Cortez. 


v^Acalman 


WW'm 

^ejjetrca 


Trzcuco 


l yenochtid(u it 

!>MEXICO 


Tacuba 


I Xploc/ 


loon  re 


ChimalhuacaJi  ^ 

fjNN  : ’ ftj'V  < 


AycZ/an 


Cyj  < 

.olhizacan  | 


Ayctzi/igo 


jSuc/iihiilco  Cy 


Cortez  determines  to  seize  Montezuma. 


cler  an  escape  for  the  Spaniards  almost  impos- 
sible. 


CITY  OF  MEXICO. 

In  this  dilemma,  the  bold  Spaniard  adopted 
the  audacious  yet  characteristic  plan  of  seizing 
Montezuma,  who  was  regarded  with  almost  re- 
ligious adoration  by  his  subjects,  and  holding 
him  as  a hostage.  The  following  occurrence 
furnished  Cortez  with  a plausible  pretext  to 
pick  a quarrel. 

We  have  before  mentioned  that  the  Totonacs, 


Tiie  Metropolis  Invaded.  191 


The  pretext.  Engagement  at  Vera  Cruz.  Cortez  demands  atonement. 

wishing  to  escape  from  the  subjection  of  the 
Mexicans,  had  acknowledged  themselves  vas- 
sals of  the  King  of  Spain.  When  the  officers 
of  Montezuma  attempted,  as  usual,  to  collect  the 
taxes,  the  Totonacs  refused  payment.  Force 
was  resorted  to,  and  a conflict  arose.  The  col- 
ony at  Vera  Cruz  immediately  sent  some  sol- 
diers to  aid  their  allies,  headed  by  Escalente, 
/ the  commander  of  the  Spanish  garrison.  In 
the  engagement  which  ensued,  Escalente  and 
seven  of  his  men  were  mortally  wounded,  one 
horse  was  killed,  and  one  Spaniard  taken  cap- 
tive, who  soon,  however,  died  of  his  wounds. 
Still  the  Spaniards,  with  their  Totonac  allies, 
were  victorious,  and  repelled  the  Mexicans  with 
much  slaughter.  The  vanquished  party  cut 
off  the  head  of  their  unfortunate  prisoner,  and 
carried  it  in  triumph  to  several  cities,  to  show 
that  their  foes  were  not  invulnerable. 

With  alacrity  Cortez  availed  himself  of  this 
event.  He  immediately  repaired  to  the  palace 
of  Montezuma,  and,  with  bitter  reproaches,  ac- 
cused him  of  treacherously  ordering  an  assault 
upon  the  Spaniards  who  had  been  left  at  A era 
Cruz.  Sternly  the  pitiless  Spaniard  demanded 
reparation  for  the  loss,  and  atonement  for  the 
insult.  Montezuma,  confounded  at  this  unex- 


192 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Montezuma  declares  his  innocence. 

pected  accusation,  earnestly  declared  that  the 
order  had  not  been  issued  by  him,  but  that  the 
distant  officer  had  acted  on  his  own  responsibil- 
ity, without  consulting  the  sovereign.  Ungen- 
erously he  added  that,  in  proof  of  his  innocence, 
he  would  immediately  command  the  offending 
officer,  Qualpopoca,  and  his  accomplices,  to  be 
brought  prisoners  to  Mexico,  and  to  be  deliver- 
ed to  Cortez  for  any  punishment  which  the 
Spaniards  might  decree. 

Cortez  now  feigned  a relenting  mood,  and  de- 
clared that  he  could  not  himself  doubt  the  word 
of  the  emperor,  but  that  something  more  was 
requisite  to  appease  the  rage  of  his  followers. 
“Nothing,”  said  he,  “ can  satisfy  them  of  your 
sincerity  and  of  your  honorable  intentions,  un- 
less you  will  leave  your  palace,  and  take  up 
your  abode  in  the  Spanish  quarters.  This  will 
pacify  my  men,  and  they  will  honor  you  there 
as  becomes  a great  monarch.” 

When  Marina  interpreted  this  strange  pro- 
posal, Montezuma  was  for  a moment  so  struck 
with  amazement  as  to  be  almost  bereft  of  speech. 
His  cheek  was  flushed  with  shame  and  rage, 
and  then  the  hectic  glow  passed  away  into 
deadly  paleness.  His  ancient  spirit  was  for  a 
moment  revived,  and  he  exclaimed,  indignantly, 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  193 


Montezuma  called  upon  to  surrender  himself  a prisoner. 

“When  did  ever  a monarch  suffer  himself 
to  he  tamely  led  to  a prison?  Even  were  I 
willing  to  debase  myself  in  so  vile  a manner, 
would  not  my  people  immediately  arm  them- 
selves to  set  me  free  ?” 

One  of  the  impetuous  attendants  of  Cortez, 
as  the  altercation  continued,  exclaimed,  grasp- 
ing his  sword, 

“Why  waste  time  in  vain?  Let  us  either 
seize  him  instantly  or  stab  him  to  the  heart.” 
Montezuma,  though  he  did  not  understand 
his  words,  observed  the  threatening  voice  and 
the  fierce  gesture,  and,  turning  to  the  amiable 
interpretress,  Marina,  inquired  what  he  said. 

“ Sire,”  she  replied,  with  her  characteristic 
mildness  and  tact,  “ as  your  subject,  I desire 
your  happiness  ; but  as  the  confidante  of  those 
men,  I know  their  secrets,  and  am  acquainted 
with  their  character.  If  you  yield  to  their 
wishes,  you  will  be  treated  with  all  the  honor 
due  to  your  royal  person  ; but  if  you  persist  in 
your  refusal,  your  life  will  be  in  danger.’ 
Montezuma,  reading  in  these  events,  as  he 
supposed,  but  the  decrees  of  fate,  now  yielded. 
He  called  his  officers,  and  informed  them  of  his 
decision.  Though  they  were  plunged  into  utter 
consternation  by  the  intelligence,  they  did  not 
N 


194 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Montezuma  conveyed  to  the  Spanish  quarters.  The  body-guard. 

venture  to  question  his  will.  The  imperial  pa- 
lanquin was  brought,  and  the  humiliated  em- 
peror was  conveyed,  followed  by  a mourning 
crowd,  to  the  Spanish  quarters.  Montezuma 
endeavored  to  appease  them,  and  to  prevent  any 
act  of  violence,  by  assuring  the  people  that  it 
was  his  own  pleasure  to  go  and  reside  with  his 
friends.  He  was  now  so  thoroughly  convinced 
of  the  resistless  power  of  the  Spaniards,  and 
that  he  was  swept  along  by  the  decrees  of  fate, 
that  he  dreaded  any  movement  of  resistance  on 
the  part  of  his  people.* 

He  was  magnificently  imprisoned.  His  own 
servants  were  permitted  to  attend  him,  and  he 
continued  to  administer  the  government  as  if 
he  had  been  in  his  own  palace.  All  the  forms 
of  courtly  etiquette  were  scrupulously  observed 
in  approaching  his  person.  Ostensibly  to  confer 
upon  him  greater  honor,  a body-guard  of  stern 
Spanish  veterans  was  appointed  for  his  protec- 
tion. This  body-guard,  with  all  external  dem- 
onstrations of  obsequiousness,  watched  him  by 
night  and  by  day,  rendering  escape  impossible. 

* Bernal  Diaz  says,  “ It  having  been  decided  that  we  should 
seize  the  person  of  the  king,  we  passed  the  whole  of  the  pre- 
ceding night  in  praying  to  our  Lord  that  he  would  be  pleased 
to  guide  us,  so  that  what  we  wrere  going  to  do  should  re- 
dound to  his  holy  service.” 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  195 


Qualpopoca  arrested.  Condemned  to  be  burned  alive. 

This  violence,  however,  was  but  the  begin- 
ning of  the  humiliation  and  anguish  imposed 
upon  the  unhappy  monarch.  The  governor, 
Qualpopoca,  who  had  ventured  to  resist  the 
Spaniards,  was  brought  a captive  to  the  capital, 
with  his  son  and  fifteen  of  the  principal  officers 
who  had  served  under  him.  They  were  imme- 
diately surrendered  to  Cortez,  that  he  might  de- 
termine their  crime  and  their  punishment. 
Qualpopoca  was  put  to  the  torture.  He  avow- 
ed, in  his  intolerable  agony,  that  he  had  only 
obeyed  the  orders  of  his  sovereign.  Cortez, 
who  wished  to  impress  the  Mexicans  with  the 
idea  that  it  was  the  greatest  of  all  conceivable 
crimes  to  cause  the  death  of  a Spaniard,  de- 
termined to  inflict  upon  them  a punishment 
which  should  appal  every  beholder.  They  were 
all  doomed  to  be  burned  alive  in  the  great  mar- 
ket-place of  the  city.  To  allow  no  time  for 
any  resistance  to  be  organized,  they  were  imme- 
diately led  out  for  execution.  In  the  royal  ar- 
senals there  was  an  immense  amount  of  arrows, 
spears,  javelins,  and  other  wooden  martial  weap- 
ons, which  had  been  collected  for  the  defense 
of  the  city.  These  the  soldiers  gathered,  thus 
disarming  the  population,  and  heaped  them  up 
in  an  immense  funeral  pile. 


196 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Atrocious  insult  to  Montezuma.  Execution  of  the  victims. 

While  these  atrocities  were  in  preparation, 
Cortez  entered  the  presence  of  his  captive,  Mon- 
tezuma, and  sternly  accused  him  of  being  an 
accomplice  in  the  death  of  the  Spaniards.  He 
then  pitilessly  ordered  the  soldiers  who  accom- 
panied him  to  bind  upon  the  hands  and  the  feet 
of  the  monarch  the  iron  manacles  of  a felon. 
It  was  one  of  the  most  cruel  insults  which  could 
have  been  inflicted  upon  fallen  majesty.  Mon- 
tezuma was  speechless  with  horror,  and  his  at- 
tendants, who  regarded  the  person  of  their  sov- 
ereign with  religious  veneration,  wailed  and 
wept.  The  shackles  being  adjusted,  Cortez 
turned  abruptly  upon  his  heel,  leaving  the  mon- 
arch in  the  endurance  of  this  ignominious  pun- 
ishment, and  went  out  to  attend  to  the  execu- 
tion of  the  victims,  who  were  already  bound  to 
the  stake. 

The  cruel  fires  were  then  kindled.  The 
flames  crackled,  and  rose  in  fierce,  devouring 
billows  around  the  sufferers.  The  stern  sol- 
diery stood,  with  musketry  and  artillery  loaded 
and  primed,  ready  to  repel  any  attempts  at  res- 
cue. Thousands  of  Mexicans,  with  no  time  for 
consideration,  gazed  with  awe  upon  the  appal- 
ling spectacle  ; and  the  Indian  chieftains,  with- 
out a struggle  or  an  audible  groan,  were  burned 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  197 


Cortez  the  emperor.  The  Spanish  commission. 

to  ashes.  The  dreadful  execution  being  termi- 
nated, and  the  blood  of  the  Spaniards  being 
thus  avenged  by  the  degradation  of  the  sover- 
eign and  the  death  of  his  officers,  Cortez  return- 
ed to  Montezuma,  and  ordered  the  fetters  to  be 
struck  front  his  limbs. 

Step  after  step  of  violence  succeeded,  until 
Montezuma  was  humbled  to  the  dust.  The 
fearful  rigor  with  which  Cortez  had  punished 
even  the  slightest  attempt  to  resist  the  Span- 
iards overawed  the  nation.  Cortez  was  now 
virtually  the  Emperor  of  Mexico.  The  general 
laws  and  customs  of  the  nation  remained  un- 
changed ; but  Cortez  issued  his  commands 
through  Montezuma,  and  the  mandates  of  the 
imprisoned  sovereign  were  submissively  obey- 
ed. With  great  skill,  the  Spanish  adventurer 
availed  himself  of  these  new  powers.  He  sent 
a Spanish  commission,  by  the  authority  and 
under  the  protection  of  Montezuma,  to  explore 
the  empire — to  ascertain  its  strength  and  its 
weakness,  its  wealth  and  its  resources.  These 
officers  went  to  nearly  all  the  provinces,  and,  by 
their  arrogant  display  of  power,  endeavored  to 
intimidate  the  natives,  and  to  prepare  them  for 
entire  subjection  to  Spain. 

Mexican  officers,  whose  fidelity  Cortez  sus- 


198 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Contributions  exacted.  Discontent  of  the  soldiers. 

pected,  were  degraded,  and  their  places  supplied 
by  others  whose  influence  he  had  secured.  A 
general  contribution  of  gold  was  exacted  through- 
out the  whole  Mexican  territories  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  conquerors. 

A large  sum  was  thus  collected.  One  fifth 
of  this  was  laid  aside  for  his  majesty,  the  King 
of  Spain.  Another  fifth  was  claimed  by  Cor- 
tez. The  remaining  portion  was  so  greatly  ab- 
sorbed to  defray  the  innumerable  expenses  of 
the  expedition,  that  only  about  one  hundred 
crowns  fell  to  the  lot  of  each  soldier.  This  ex- 
cited discontent  so  deep  and  loud  that  Cortez 
was  compelled  to  attempt  to  pacify  his  men  by 
a public  address. 

“He  called  us  together,”  says  Diaz,  “and 
in  a long  set  speech,  gave  us  a great  many  hon- 
eyed words,  which  he  had  an  extraordinary  fa- 
cility of  doing,  wondering  how  we  could  be  so 
solicitous  about  a little  paltry  gold  when  the 
whole  country  would  soon  be  ours,  with  all  its 
rich  mines,  wherewith  there  was  enough  to 
make  us  great  lords  and  princes,  and  I know 
not  what.” 

Cortez  was  cautious  as  well  as  bold.  To 
prepare  for  a retreat  in  case  of  necessity,  should 
the  Mexicans  seize  their  arms  and  break  down 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  199 


Building  of  the  brigantines. 

their  bridges,  he  wished,  without  exciting  the 
suspicions  of  the  natives,  to  build  some  vessels 
which  would  command  the  lake.  He  accom- 
plished this  with  his  usual  address.  In  con- 
versation with  Montezuma,  he  gave  the  mon- 
arch such  glowing  accounts  of  floating  palaces, 
which  would  glide  rapidly  over  the  water  with- 
out oars,  as  to  excite  the  intense  curiosity  of 
his  captive.  Montezuma  expressed  a strong 
desire  to  see  these  wonderful  fabrics.  Cortez, 
under  the  pretext  of  gratifying  this  desire,  very 
obligingly  consented  to  build  two  brigantines. 
The  resources  of  the  empire  were  immediately 
placed  at  the  disposal  of  Cortez.  A multitude 
of  men  were  sent  to  the  forest  to  cut  down  ship- 
timber  and  draw  it  to  the  lake.  Several  hund- 
red men  of  burden  were  dispatched  to  Vera 
Cruz  to  transport  naval  stores  from  that  place 
to  Mexico.  Aided  by  so  many  strong  arms, 
the  Spanish  carpenters  soon  succeeded  in  con- 
structing two  vessels,  which  amused  the  mon- 
arch and  his  people,  and  which  afforded  the 
Spaniards  an  invaluable  resource  in  the  hour 
of  danger. 

But  the  insolent  bearing  of  the  Spaniards  had 
now  become  to  many  quite  unendurable.  Ca- 
camatzin,  the  chief  of  the  powerful  city  of  Tez- 


200 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Indignation  of  Cacamatzin.  His  arrest  and  imprisonment 

cuco,  at  the  farther  extremity  of  the  lake,  was 
a nephew  of  Montezuma.  He  was  a bold  man, 
and  his  indignation,  in  view  of  the  pusillanimity 
of  his  uncle,  at  last  overleaped  his  prudence. 
He  began  to  assemble  an  army  to  make  war 
upon  the  Spaniards.  The  Mexicans  began  to 
rally  around  their  new  leader.  The  indications 
were  alarming  to  Cortez,  and  even  Montezuma 
became  apprehensive  that  he  might  lose  his 
crown,  for  it  was  reported  that  Cacamatzin,  re- 
garding his  uncle  as  degraded  and  a captive, 
intended  to  seize  the  reins  of  empire.  Under 
these  circumstances,  Cortez  and  Montezuma 
acted  in  perfect  harmony  against  their  common 
foe.  After  several  unsuccessful  stratagems  to 
get  possession  of  the  person  of  the  bold  chief- 
tain, Montezuma  sent  some  of  his  nobles,  who 
secretly  seized  him,  and  brought  him  a prison- 
er to  the  capital,  where  he  was  thrust  into  prison. 
A partisan  of  Cortez  was  sent  to  take  the  place 
of  Cacamatzin  as  governor  of  the  province  of 
Tezcuco.  Thus  this  danger  was  averted. 

Cortez  still  felt  much  solicitude  concerning 
the  judgment  of  the  King  of  Spain  respecting 
his  bold  assumption  of  authority.  He  well 
knew  that  Velasquez,  the  governor  of  Cuba, 
whose  dominion  he  had  so  recklessly  renounced, 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  201 


Acknowledgment  of  vassalage.  Indignation  of  the  nobles. 

would  report  the  proceedings  to  the  court  at 
Madrid,  sustained  by  all  the  influence  he  could 
command.  To  conciliate  his  sovereign,  and  to 
bribe  him  to  indulgence,  he  extorted  from  the 
weeping,  spirit-crushed  sovereign  of  Mexico  an 
acknowledgment  of  vassalage  to  the  King  of 
Spain.  This  humiliating  deed  was  invested 
with  much  imposing  pomp.  All  the  nobles  and 
lords  were  assembled  in  a large  hall  in  the  Span- 
ish  quarters.  The  poor  monarch  wept  bitterly, 
and  his  voice  often  broke  with  emotion  as  he 
tremblingly  said, 

“ I speak  as  the  gods  direct.  Our  prophets 
have  told  us  that  a new  race  is  to  come  to  sup- 
plant our  own.  The  hour  has  arrived.  The 
sceptre  passes  from  my  hands  by  the  decrees 
of  fate  which  no  one  can  resist.  I now  surren- 
der to  the  King  of  the  East  my  power  and  alle- 
giance, and  promise  to  pay  to  him  an  annual 
tribute.” 

A general  outburst  of  amazement  and  indig- 
nation from  the  nobles  followed  this  address. 
Cortez,  apprehensive  that  he  might  have  pro- 
ceeded a little  too  far,  endeavored  to  appease 
the  rising  agitation  by  the  assurance  that  his 
master  had  no  intention  to  deprive  Montezuma 
of  his  regal  power,  or  to  make  any  innovations 


202 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cortez  determines  to  overthrow  the  system  of  idolatry.  Opposition. 

upon  the  manners  and  the  laws  of  the  Mexicans. 
The  act  of  submission  and  homage  was,  how- 
ever, executed  with  all  the  formalities  which 
Cortez  saw  fit  to  prescribe.  The  nobles  retired, 
exasperated  to  the  highest  degree,  and  burning 
with  desires  for  vengeance. 

Encouraged  by  these  wonderful  successes, 
and  by  the  tame  submission  of  the  monarch, 
Cortez  resolved  upon  the  entire  overthrow,  by 
violence  if  necessary,  of  the  whole  system  of 
idolatry,  and  to  introduce  Catholic  Christianity 
in  its  stead.  He  had  often,  with  the  most  im- 
portunate zeal,  urged  Montezuma  to  renounce 
his  false  gods  and  to  embrace  the  Christian 
faith.  But  superstition  was  too  firmly  enthroned 
in  the  heart  of  the  Mexican  monarch  to  be  easi- 
ly supplanted.  To  every  thing  but  this  the 
monarch  was  ready  to  yield ; but  every  prop- 
osition to  renounce  his  gods  he  rejected  with 
horror.  Cortez  at  length  firmly  ordered  his  sob 
diers  to  march  to  the  temples  and  sweep  them 
clean  of  every  vestige  of  paganism.  This  roused 
the  priests.  They  seized  their  arms,  and  the 
alarm  was  spread  rapidly  through  the  streets 
of  the  city.  Vast  multitudes,  grasping  such 
weapons  as  they  could  get,  assembled  around 
the  temples,  resolved  to  brave  every  peril  in  de- 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  203 

Indications  of  trouble.  Hardships  endured.  Alarming  intelligence. 


fense  of  their  religion.  Matters  assumed  an  as- 
pect so  threatening,  that,  for  the  first  time, 
Cortez  found  it  necessary  to  draw  back.  He 
contented  himself  with  simply  ejecting  the  gods 
from  one  of  the  shrines,  and  in  erecting  in  their 
stead  an  image  of  the  Virgin. 

There  were  now  many  indications  of  ap- 
proaching trouble.  The  natives  were  greatly 
provoked,  and  it  was  evident  that  they  were 
watching  for  a favorable  opportunity  to  rise 
against  their  invaders.  Cortez  practiced  the 
most  sleepless  vigilance.  Diaz  speaks  thus  of 
the  hardships  he  and  his  comrades  endured : 

“ During  the  nine  months  that  we  remained 
in  Mexico,  every  man,  without  any  distinction 
between  officers  and  soldiers,  slept  on  his  arms, 
in  his  quilted  jacket  and  gorget.  They  lay  on 
mats  or  straw  spread  on  the  floor,  and  each  was 
obliged  to  hold  himself  as  alert  as  if  he  had 
been  on  guard.  This  became  so  habitual  to 
me,  that  even  now,  in  my  advanced  age,  I al- 
ways sleep  in  my  clothes,  and  never  in  any  bed.” 
Just  in  this  crisis  alarming  intelligence  was 
received  from  the  commander  of  the  garrison  at 
Vera  Cruz.  One  of  the  ships  of  the  delegation 
sent  to  Spain,  of  which  we  have  previously 
spoken,  had,  contrary  to  the  orders  of  Cortez, 


204 


Hernando  Cortez. 


An  armament  sent  after  Cortez.  Surrender  of  Vera  Cruz  demanded. 

stopped  at  Cuba.  In  this  way  the  indignant 
governor,  Velasquez,  learned  that  Cortez  had  re- 
nounced all  connection  with  him,  and  had  set 
up  an  independent  colony.  His  anger  was 
roused  to  the  utmost,  and  he  resolved  upon 
summary  vengeance.  It  so  happened  that  Ve- 
lasquez had  just  received  from  his  sovereign  the 
appointment  of  governor  for  life , and  was  au- 
thorized to  prosecute  discoveries  in  Mexico  with 
very  extensive  and  exclusive  privileges  and 
powers. 

He  immediately  fitted  out  an  armament  con- 
sisting of  nineteen  ships,  with  eighty  horsemen, 
fourteen  hundred  soldiers,  and  twenty  pieces  of 
cannon.  This  was,  in  that  day,  a formidable 
force.  The  commandant,  Narvaez,  was  ordered 
to  seize  Cortez  and  his  principal  officers,  and 
send  them  in  chains  to  Cuba.  He  was  then, 
in  the  name  of  Velasquez,  to  prosecute  the  dis- 
covery and  the  conquest  of  the  country. 

After  a prosperous  voyage,  the  fleet  cast  an- 
chor in  the  Bay  of  St.  Juan  de  Ulua,  and  the 
soldiers  were  landed.  Narvaez  then  sent  a sum- 
mons to  the  governor  of  Vera  Cruz  to  surrender. 
Sandoval,  the  commandant,  however,  being  zeal- 
ously attached  to  Cortez,  seized  the  envoy  and 
his  attendants,  and  sent  them  in  chains  to  the 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  205 


The  envoy  sent  to  Cortez.  Montezuma  elated.  Preparations  for  war. 

capital,  with  intelligence  of  the  impending  peril. 
Cortez,  with  his  wonted  sagacity,  received  them, 
as  friends,  ordered  their  chains  to  be  struck  off, 
condemned  the  severity  of  Sandoval,  and  load- 
ed them  with  caresses  and  presents.  He  thus 
won  their  confidence,  and  drew  from  them  all 
the  particulars  of  the  force,  and  the  intentions 
of  the  expedition.  Cortez  had  great  cause  for 
alarm  when  he  learned  that  Narvaez  was  in- 
structed to  espouse  the  cause  of  Montezuma ; 
to  assure  the  Mexican  monarch  that  the  vio- 
lence which  he  had  suffered  was  unauthorized 
by  the  King  of  Spain,  and  that  he  was  ready 
to  assist  Montezuma  and  his  subjects  in  repel- 
ling the  invaders  from  the  capital.  From  peril 
so  imminent  no  ordinary  man  could  have  extri- 
cated himself.  Narvaez  was  already  on  the 
march,  and  the  natives,  enraged  against  Cortez, 
were  in  great  numbers  joining  the  standard  of 
the  new-comers.  Already  emissaries  from  the 
camp  of  Narvaez  had  reached  the  capital,  and 
had  communicated  to  Montezuma,  through  the 
nobles,  intelligence  that  Narvaez  was  marching 
to  his  relief.  Montezuma  was  overjoyed,  and  his 
nobles  were  elated  with  hope,  as  they  secretly 
collected  arms  and  marshaled  their  forces  for 
battle. 


206 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Terms  of  accommodation.  Cortez  marches  on  Narvaez.  The  storm. 

Cortez  immediately  dispatched  Father  Olme- 
do  to  meet  Narvaez  to  propose  terms  of  accom- 
modation. He  was  fully  aware  that  no  such 
terms  as  he  proposed  could  be  acceded  to  ; but 
Olmedo  and  his  attendants  were  enjoined,  as 
the  main  but  secret  object  of  their  mission,  to 
do  every  thing  they  could,  by  presents,  caress- 
es, promises,  and  glowing  descriptions  of  the 
greatness  of  Cortez,  his  power,  and  the  glory 
opening  before  him,  to  induce  the  officers  and 
soldiers  of  Narvaez  to  abandon  his  standard, 
and  range  themselves  under  the  banner  of 
Cortez. 

At  the  same  time,  Cortez,  leaving  one  hund' 
red  and  fifty  men,  under  Alvarado,  to  guard  the 
fortified  camp  in  the  metropolis,  set  out  by  forced 
marches,  with  the  rest  of  his  force,  to  fall  unex- 
pectedly upon  Narvaez.  His  strength  did  not 
exceed  two  hundred  and  fifty  men.  In  a great 
emergency  like  this,  the  natives  could  not  be 
trusted.  As  Cortez  drew  near  his  foe,  he  found 
that  Narvaez  was  encamped  upon  a great  plain 
in  the  vicinity  of  Zempoalla.  A terrible  tem- 
pest arose.  Black  clouds  darkened  the  sky, 
and  the  rain  fell  in  floods.  The  soldiers  of 
Narvaez,  drenched  through  and  through  by  the 
unceasing  torrents,  demanded  to  be  led  to  the 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  207 


Narvaez’s  army  seeks  shelter.  The  harangue  and  the  attack. 

shelter  of  the  houses  in  Zempoalla.  They 
deemed  it  impossible  that  any  foe  could  ap- 
proach in  such  a storm ; but  the  storm,  in  all 
its  pitiless  fury,  was  the  very  re-enforcement 
which  Cortez  and  his  men  desired.  Black  mid- 
night came,  and  the  careering  tempest  swept 
the  deluged  streets  of  Zempoalla,  driving  even 
the  sentinels  to  seek  shelter. 

Cortez  gathered  his  little  band  around  him, 
and  roused  them,  by  a vigorous  harangue,  for 
an  immediate  attack.  The  odds  were  fearful. 
Cortez  had  but  two  hundred  and  fifty  men. 
Narvaez  had  fifteen  hundred,  with  nineteen 
pieces  of  artillery  and  eighty  horsemen.  Giv- 
ing the  soldiers  for  their  countersign  the  inspir- 
ing words,  “The  Holy  Spirit,”  they  rushed 
through  the  darkness  and  the  raging  storm 
upon  the  unsuspecting  foe.  They  first  direct- 
ed their  energies  for  the  capture  of  the  artillery. 
The  party  who  made  this  attack  was  headed  by 
Pizarro,  “an  active  lad,”  says  Diaz,  “whose 
name,  however,  was  at  that  time  as  little  known 
as  that  of  Peru.”  The  guns  were  seized,  after 
a short  and  not  a very  sanguinary  struggle. 
They  then,  without  a moment’s  delay,  turned 
upon  the  horsemen.  But  the  sleeping  foe  was 
now  effectually  aroused.  A short  scene  of  con- 


208 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Narvaez  made  prisoner.  The  surrender.  Artfulness  of  Cortez. 

sternation,  clamor,  horror,  and  blood  ensued. 
The  companions  of  Cortez  fought  with  the  en- 
ergies of  despair.  To  them,  defeat  was  certain 
death.  The  soldiers  of  Narvaez  were  bewil- 
dered. Many  of  them,  even  before  the  battle, 
were  half  disposed  to  abandon  Narvaez  and 
join  the  standard  of  Cortez,  of  whose  renown 
they  had  heard  such  glowing  accounts.  Taken 
by  a midnight  surprise,  they  fought  manfully 
for  a time.  But  at  length,  in  the  hot  and  tu- 
multuary light,  a spear  pierced  the  cheek  of 
Narvaez,  and  tore  out  one  of  his  eyes.  He  was 
struck  down  and  made  a prisoner.  This  led 
to  an  immediate  surrender.  The  genius  of 
Cortez  had  most  signally  triumphed.  Though 
many  were  wounded  in  this  conflict,  but  two 
men  on  the  side  of  Cortez  were  killed,  and  fif- 
teen of  the  party  of  Narvaez. 

The  artful  conqueror  loaded  the  vanquished 
with  favors,  and  soon  succeeded  in  winning 
nearly  all  of  them  to  engage  in  his  service. 
With  enthusiasm  these  new  recruits,  thus  sin- 
gularly gained,  rallied  around  him,  eager  to 
march  in  the  paths  of  glory  to  which  such  a 
leader  could  guide  them. 

This  achievement  was  hardly  accomplished 
ere  a new  peril  menaced  the  victorious  Span- 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  209 


The  insurrection  in  the  metropolis.  Disaffection  of  the  inhabitants. 

iard.  An  express  arrived  from  the  Mexican 
metropolis  with  the  intelligence  that  the  Mex- 
icans had  risen  in  arms  ; that  they  had  attack- 
ed the  Spaniards  in  their  quarters,  and  had  kill- 
ed several,  and  had  wounded  more ; that  they 
had  also  seized  the  two  brigantines,  destroyed 
the  magazine  of  provisions,  and  that  the  whole 
garrison  was  in  imminent  danger  of  destruc- 
tion. 

Immediately  collecting  his  whole  force,  now 
greatly  augmented  by  the  accession  of  the  van- 
quished troops  of  Narvaez,  writh  their  cavalry 
and  artillery,  Cortez  hastened  back  from  Zem- 
poalla  to  the  rescue  of  his  beleaguered  camp. 
His  army  now,  with  his  strangely  acquired  re- 
enforcement, amounted  to  over  a thousand  in- 
fantry and  a hundred  cavalry,  besides  several 
thousands  of  the  natives,  whom  he  recruited 
from  his  allies,  the  Totonacs. 

The  danger  was  so  imminent  that  his  troops 
were  urged  to  the  utmost  possible  rapidity  of 
march.  At  Tlascala,  two  thousand  of  those 
fierce  warriors  joined  him  ; but  as  he  advanced 
into  the  territory  of  Montezuma,  he  met  every 
where  the  evidences  of  strong  disaffection  to 
his  cause.  The  nobles  avoided  his  camp.  The 
inhabitants  of  cities  and  villages  retired  at  his 
O 


210 


Hernando  Cortez. 


They  arrive  at  the  causeway.  Cause  of  the  insurrection. 

approach.  No  food  was  brought  to  him.  The 
natives  made  no  attempt  to  oppose  a force  so 
resistless,  but  they  left  before  him  a path  of  si- 
lence and  solitude. 

When  the  Spaniards  arrived  at  the  causeway 
which  led  to  the  city,  they  found,  to  their  sur- 
prise, that  the  Mexicans  had  not  destroyed  the 
bridges,  but  throughout  the  whole  length  of 
this  narrow  passage  no  person  was  to  be  seen. 
No  one  welcomed  or  opposed.  Fiercely  those 
stern  men  strode  on,  over  the  causeway  and 
through  the  now  deserted  streets,  till  they  en- 
tered into  the  encampment  of  their  comrades. 

The  insurrection  had  been  suddenly  excited 
by  an  atrocious  massacre  on  the  part  of  Alva- 
rado. This  leader,  a brave  soldier,  but  desti- 
tute either  of  tact  or  judgment,  suspected,  or  pre- 
tended to  suspect,  that  the  Mexican  nobles  were 
conspiring  to  attack  him.  One  of  their  religious 
festivals  was  at  hand,  when  all  the  principal  no- 
bles of  the  empire  were  to  be  assembled  in  the 
performance  of  the  rites  of  their  religion,  in  the 
court-yard  of  the  great  temple.  Suddenly  Al- 
varado came  upon  them,  when  they  were  thus 
unarmed  and  unsuspicious,  and,  cutting  them 
off  from  every  avenue  of  .escape,  with  musketry, 
artillery,  and  the  keen  sabres  of  his  horsemen, 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  211 


Displeasure  of  Cortez.  His  insolent  manner. 

mercilessly  hewed  them  down.  Nearly  six 
hundred  of  the  flower  of  the  Mexican  nobility 
were  massacred.  Though  Cortez  was  very  in- 
dignant with  his  lieutenant  when  he  heard  this 
story  from  his  lips,  and  exclaimed,  “ Your  con- 
duct has  been  that  of  a madman,”  he  was  still 
enraged  with  the  Mexicans  for  venturiug  to  at- 
tack his  garrison,  and  declared  that  they  should 
feel  the  weight  of  Spanish  vengeance. 

In  his  displeasure,  he  refused  to  call  upon 
Montezuma.  Elated  by  the  success  with  which 
he  had  thus  far  triumphed  over  all  obstacles, 
and  deeming  the  forces  he  now  had  under  his 
command  sufficient  to  sweep,  like  chaff  before 
the  whirlwind,  any  armies  which  the  natives 
could  raise,  he  gave  free  utterance  to  expres- 
sions of  contempt  for  both  prince  and  people. 
There  had  been  a tacit  truce  between  the  two 
parties  for  a few  days,  and  had  Cortez  disavow- 
ed the  conduct  of  his  subaltern,  and  pursued 
conciliatory  measures,  it  is  possible  that  the  na- 
tives might  again  have  been  appeased.  The 
insolent  tone  he  assumed,  and  his  loud  menace 
of  vengeance,  aroused  the  natives  anew,  and 
they  grasped  their  arms  with  a degree  of  de- 
termination and  ferocity  never  manifested  be- 
fore. 


212 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Diaz’s  record.  Motives  for  the  attack. 

Bernal  Diaz  in  the  following  terms  records 
this  event : “ Cortez  asked  Alvarado  for  what 
reason  he  fell  upon  the  natives  while  they  were 
dancing  and  holding  a festival  in  honor  of  their 
gods.  To  this  Alvarado  replied  that  it  was  in 
order  to  be  beforehand  with  them,  having  had 
intelligence  of  their  hostile  intentions  toward 
him  from  two  of  their  own  nobility  and  a priest. 
Cortez  then  asked  of  him  if  it  was  true  that 
they  had  requested  of  him  permission  to  hold 
their  festival.  The  other  replied  that  it  wTas 
so,  and  that  it  was  in  order  to  take  them  by 
surprise,  and  to  punish  and  terrify  them,  so  as 
to  prevent  their  making  Avar  upon  the  Span- 
iards, that  he  had  determined  to  fall  on  them 
by  anticipation.  At  hearing  this  avowal,  Cor- 
tez Avas  highly  enraged.  He  censured  the 
conduct  of  Alvarado  in  the  strongest  terms,  and 
in  this  temper  left  him. 

“ Some  say  that  it  Avas  a Avarice  Avhich  tempt- 
ed Alvarado  to  make  this  attack,  in  order  to 
pillage  the  Indians  of  the  golden  ornaments 
which  they  Avore  at  their  festival.  I never 
heard  any  just  reason  for  the  assertion;  nor 
do  I believe  any  such  thing,  although  it  is  so 
represented  by  Bartholome  de  las  Casas.  For 
my  part,  I am  convinced  that  his  intention  in 


The  Metropolis  Invaded.  213 


The  massacre  intended  to  prevent  insurrection. 

falling  on  them  at  that  time  was  in  order  to 
strike  terror  into  them,  and  prevent  their  insur- 
rection, according  to  the  saying  that  the  first 
attack  is  half  the  battle.” 


214  Hernando  Cortez. 


Augmented  forces  of  Cortez. 


The  reconnaissance. 


Chapter  VIII. 

Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night. 
'HE  force  which  Cortez  now  had  under  his 


command,  if  we  take  into  consideration  the 
efficiency  of  European  discipline  and  of  Euro- 
pean weapons  of  warfare,  was  truly  formidable. 
In  the  stone  buildings  which  protected  and  en- 
circled his  encampment,  he  could  marshal,  in 
battle  array,  twelve  hundred  Spaniards  and 
eight  thousand  native  allies ; but  they  were 
nearly  destitute  of  provisions,  and  the  natives 
were  rapidly  assembling  from  all  quarters  in 
countless  numbers.  Cortez  sent  four  hundred 
men  out  into  the  streets  to  reconnoitre.  They 
had  hardly  emerged  from  the  walls  of  their  for- 
tress before  they  were  assailed  with  shouts  of 
vengeance,  and  a storm  of  arrows  and  javelins 
fell  upon  them.  Phrenzied  multitudes  throng' 
ed  the  streets  and  the  house-tops,  and  from  the 
roofs  and  the  summits  of  the  temples,  stones 
and  all  similar  missiles  were  poured  down  upon 
the  heads  of  the  Spaniards.  With  great  diffi- 
culty this  strong  detachment  fought  their  way 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Nigiit.  215 


Success  of  the  Mexicans.  The  conflict  continued. 

back  to  their  fortified  quarters,  having  lost 
twenty-three  in  killed,  and  a large  number  be- 
ing wounded. 

This  success  greatly  emboldened  the  Mexi- 
cans, and  in  locust  legions  they  pressed  upon 
the  Spanish  quarters,  rending  the  air  with  their 
unearthly  shouts,  and  darkening  the  sky  with 
their  missiles.  The  artillery  was  immediately 
brought  to  bear  upon  them,  and  every  volley 
opened  immense  gaps  in  their  ranks;  but  the 
places  of  the  dead  were  instantly  occupied  by 
others,  and  there  seemed  to  be  no  end  to  their 
numbers.  Never  did  mortal  men  display  more 
bravery  than  these  exasperated  Mexicans  ex- 
hibited, struggling  for  their  homes  and  their 
rights.  Twice  they  came  very  near  forcing  an 
entrance  over  the  walls  into  the  Spanish  quar- 
ters. Had  they  succeeded,  in  a hand  to  hand 
fight  numbers  must  have  triumphed,  and  the 
Spaniards  must  have  been  inevitably  destroy- 
ed ; but  the  batteries  of  the  Spaniards  mowed 
down  the  assailants  like  grass  before  the  scythe., 
and  the  Mexicans  were  driven  from  the  walls. 
All  the  day  long  the  conflict  was  continued,  and 
late  into  the  night.  The  ground  was  covered 
with  the  dead  when  darkness  stopped  the  car- 
nage. 


216 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Troops  of  Narvaez  begin  to  murmur.  The  sally. 

The  soldiers  of  Narvaez,  unaccustomed  to 
such  scenes,  and  appalled  by  the  fury  and  the 
number  of  their  enemies,  began  to  murmur 
loudly.  They  had  been  promised  the  spoils 
of  an  empire  which  they  were  assured  was  al- 
ready conquered ; instead  of  this,  they  found 
themselves  in  the  utmost  peril,  exposed  to  a 
conflict  with  a vigorous  and  exasperated  enemy, 
surrounding  them  with  numbers  which  could 
not  be  counted.  Bitterly  they  execrated  their 
own  folly  in  allowing  themselves  to  be  thus  de- 
luded ; but  their  murmurs  could  now  be  of  no 
avail.  The  only  hope  for  the  Spaniards  was 
in  united  and  indomitable  courage. 

The  energies  of  Cortez  increased  with  the 
difficulties  which  surrounded  him.  During  the 
night  he  selected  a strong  force  of  picked  men 
to  make  a vigorous  sally  in  the  morning.  To 
nerve  them  to  higher  daring,  he  resolved  to 
head  the  perilous  enterprise  himself.  He  avail- 
ed himself  of  all  his  knowledge  of  Indian  war- 
fare, and  of  all  the  advantages  which  European 
military  art  could  furnish.  In  the  early  dawn, 
these  troops,  in  solid  column,  rushed  from  the 
gates  of  their  fortress ; but  the  foe,  greatly 
augmented  by  the  fresh  troops  which  had  been 
pouring  in  during  the  night,  were  ready  to  re- 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  217 


Cortez  obliged  to  retreat.  The  conflagration. 

ceive  him.  Both  parties  fought  with  ferocity 
which  has  never  "been  surpassed.  Cortez,  to 
his  inexpressible  chagrin,  found  himself  com- 
pelled to  retire  before  the  natives,  who,  in  num- 
bers perfectly  amazing,  were  crowding  upon 
him. 

Most  of  the  streets  were  traversed  by  canals. 
The  bridges  were  broken  down,  and  the  Span- 
iards, thus  arrested  in  their  progress  and  crowd- 
ed together,  were  overwhelmed  with  stones  and 
arrows  from  the  house-tops.  Cortez  set  fire  to 
the  houses  every  where  along  his  line  of  march. 
Though  the  avails  of  many  of  these  buildings 
were  of  stone,  the  flames  ran  eagerly  through 
the  dry  and  combustible  interior,  and  leaped 
from  roof  to  roof.  A wide  and  wasting  confla- 
gration soon  swept  horribly  through  the  doomed 
city,  adding  to  the  misery  of  the  bloody  strife. 
All  the  day  long  the  battle  raged.  The  streets 
were  strewn  with  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  and 
crimsoned  with  gore.  The  natives  cheerfully 
sacrificed  a hundred  of  their  own  lives  to  take 
the  life  of  one  of  their  foes.  The  Spaniards 
were,  however,  at  length  driven  back  behind 
their  walls,  leaving  twelve  of  their  number 
dead  in  the  streets,  and  having  sixty  severely 
wounded. 


218 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  desperate  situation.  The  appeal  to  Montezuma. 

Another  night  darkened  over  the  bloodstain- 
ed and  smouldering  city.  The  Spaniards,  ex- 
hausted by  the  interminable  conflict,  still  stood 
fiercely  behind  their  ramparts.  The  natives, 
in  continually  increasing  numbers,  surrounded 
them,  filling  the  night  air  with  shrieks  of  defi- 
ance and  rage.  Cortez  had  displayed  person- 
ally the  most  extraordinary  heroism  during  the 
protracted  strife.  His  situation  now  seemed 
desperate.  Though  many  thousands  of  the 
Mexicans  had  been  slaughtered  during  the  day, 
recruits  flocked  in  so  rapidly  that  their  numbers 
remained  undiminished.  Cortez  had  received 
a severe  wound  in  his  hand  which  caused  him 
intense  anguish.  His  soldiers  could  hardly 
stand  from  their  exhaustion.  Many  had  been 
slain,  and  nearly  all  were  wounded.  The  mad- 
dened roar  of  countless  thousands  of  the  fiercest 
warriors  surging  around  their  bulwarks  almost 
deafened  the  ear.  Every  moment  it  was  ap- 
prehended that  the  walls  would  be  scaled,  and 
the  inundation  pour  in  resistlessly  upon  them. 

In  this  extremity  Cortez  decided  to  appeal 
to  his  captive  Montezuma,  and  try  the  effect  of 
his  interposition  to  soothe  or  overawe  his  sub- 
jects. Assuming  the  tone  of  humanity,  he  af- 
fected to  deplore  the  awful  carnage  which  had 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  219 


He  is  induced  to  interpose.  The  dawn  of  the  morning. 

taken  place.  He  affirmed  that  the  city  must 
inevitably  be  destroyed  entirely,  and  the  inhab- 
itants generally  slaughtered,  unless  they  could 
be  induced  to  lay  down  their  arms.  Monte- 
zuma, from  one  of  the  towers  of  the  Spanish 
fortress,  had  watched,  with  a throbbing  heart 
and  flooded  eyes,  the  progress  of  the  light  as 
the  flames  swept  through  the  streets,  and  de- 
struction, like  a scythe,  mowed  down  his  sub- 
jects. The  amiable,  beloved,  perplexed  sover- 
eign was  thus  induced,  though  with  much  hes- 
itation, to  interpose.  He  was  adored  by  his 
people ; but  he  believed  that  the  Spaniards 
were  enthroned  by  the  voice  of  destiny,  and 
that  resistance  would  but  involve  the  nation  in 
a more  bloody  ruin. 

Another  morning  dawned  upon  the  combat- 
ants. In  its  earliest  light  the  battle  was  again 
renewed  with  increasing  fury.  No  pen  can  de- 
scribe the  tumult  of  this  wild  war.  The  yell  of 
countless  thousands  of  assailants,  the  clang  of 
their  trumpets,  gongs,  and  drums,  the  clash  of 
arms,  the  rattle  of  musketry,  and  the  roar  of  ar- 
tillery, presented  a scene  which  had  never  be- 
fore found  a parallel  in  the  New  World. 

Suddenly  all  the  tumult  was  hushed  as  the 
venerated  emperor,  dressed  in  his  imperial  robes, 


220 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Attention  of  the  natives.  Address  of  Montezuma.  He  is  wounded. 

appeared  upon  the  walls,  and  waved  his  hand 
to  command  the  attention  of  his  subjects.  At 
the  sight  of  their  beloved  sovereign  silence  al- 
most instantaneously  prevailed,  all  bowed  their 
heads  in  reverence,  and  many  prostrated  them- 
selves upon  the  ground.  Montezuma  earnest- 
ly entreated  them  to  cease  from  the  conflict,  as- 
suring them  that  the  Spaniards  would  retire 
from  the  city  if  the  Mexicans  would  lay  down 
their  arms. 

“The  war  will  soon  be  over,”  a Mexican 
shouted  from  the  crowd,  “for  we  have  all  sworn 
that  not  a Spaniard  shall  leave  the  city  alive.” 

As  Montezuma  continued  his  urgency,  plead- 
ing for  the  detested  Spaniards,  the  natives  for 
a few  moments  longer  continued  to  listen  pa- 
tiently. But  gradually  a sullen  murmur,  like 
a rising  breeze,  began  to  spread  through  the 
ranks.  Reproaches  and  threats  succeeded.  In- 
dignation now  overtopped  all  barriers,  and  a 
shower  of  stones  and  arrows  suddenly  fell  upon 
the  unhappy  monarch.  Cortez  had  taken  the 
precaution  to  send  a body-guard  upon  the  wall 
with  Montezuma,  with  bucklers  for  his  protec- 
tion ; but  so  sudden  and  unexpected  was  the 
assault,  that  two  arrows  pierced  his  body,  and 
a stone,  striking  him  on  the  temple,  felled  him 


THE  FALL  OF  MONTEZUMA. 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  223 


He  refuses  nourishment.  Ilis  death.  Raging  of  the  battle. 

senseless  to  the  ground  before  they  could  raise 
their  shields.  This  was  the  last  drop  in  the 
cup  of  bitterness  which  Montezuma  was  doom- 
ed to  drain.  The  wounded  monarch  was  con- 
veyed to  his  apartment,  crushed  in  spirit,  and 
utterly  broken-hearted.  Finally,  resolved  no 
longer  to  live,  he  tore  the  bandages  from  his 
wounds,  and  refused  all  nourishment.  Silent, 
and  brooding  over  his  terrible  calamities,  he 
lingered,  the  picture  of  dejection  and  woe,  for  a 
few  days,  until  he  died. 

In  the  mean  time  the  battle  was  resumed 
with  all  its  fury.  Throughout  the  day  it  raged 
with  the  most  intense  ferocity.  The  Mexicans 
took  possession  of  a high  tower  which  com- 
manded the  Spanish  quarters.  It  was  neces- 
sary to  dislodge  .them  at  any  sacrifice.  A de- 
tachment of  chosen  men  was  three  times  re- 
pulsed in  its  desperate  assault.  Cortez,  aware 
that  the  safety  of  the  army  depended  upon  the 
result,  ordered  a buckler  to  be  bound  to  his  arm, 
as  he  could  not  grasp  it  with  his  wounded  hand, 
and  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  attacking 
column.  Animated  by  his  voice  and  example, 
the  Spaniards  forced  their  way  up  the  steps  of 
the  temple,  driving  the  Mexicans  before  them. 
Having  reached  the  spacious  platform  on  the 


224 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  two  Mexican  nobles.  Escape  of  Cortez.  Night  and  its  scenes. 

summit,  a terrible  strife  ensued.  Two  young 
Mexican  nobles  resolved  to  effect  the  destruc- 
tion of  Cortez  by  the  sacrifice  of  their  own  lives. 
They  seized  him,  dragged  him  to  the  battle- 
ments, and  threw  themselves  over  while  cling- 
ing to  his  person,  that  they  might  thus  dash 
him  also  upon  the  pavement  beneath.  But 
Cortez,  by  his  wonderful  strength  and  agility, 
shook  them  off,  and  thus  broke  from  their  grasp, 
though  they  both  perished.  The  victorious 
Spaniards  then  set  fire  to  the  tower.  Other 
sorties  were  made  during  the  day,  and  the 
wretched  city  was  as  the  crater  of  a volcano  of 
flame  and  blood.  The  energies  of  both  parties 
seemed  to  redouble  with  despair. 

At  last  another  night  spread  its  veil  over  the 
infuriated  combatants.  In  its  darkest  watches, 
the  indomitable  Cortez  made  a sortie  at  the 
head  of  a strong  band,  and  set  three  hundred 
buildings  in  flames.  The  lurid  fire,  crackling 
to  the  skies,  illumined  the  tranquil  lake,  and 
gleamed  portentously  upon  the  most  distant  vil- 
lages in  the  vast  mountain-girdled  valley.  The 
tumult  of  the  midnight  assault,  the  shrieks  of 
the  women  and  children,  and  the  groans  of  the 
wounded  and  the  dying,  blended  dismally  with 
the  roar  of  the  conflagration. 

O 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  225 


Endeavors  to  intimidate  the  natives.  Their  heroism.  Defiance. 

Cortez  now  summoned  the  Mexican  chiefs  to 
a parley.  He  stood  upon  the  wall.  The  beau- 
tiful Marina,  as  interpreter,  stood  at  his  side. 
The  native  chiefs  were  upon  the  ground  before 
him.  The  inflexible  Spanish  commander  en- 
deavored to  intimidate  his  determined  foes  by 
threats. 

“If  you  do  not  immediately  submit,”  said 
he,  “ I will  lay  the  whole  city  in  ashes,  and  ev- 
ery man,  woman,  and  child  shall  be  put  to  the 
sword.” 

They  answered  defiantly, 

“The  bridges  are  broken  down,  and  you  can 
not  escape.  You  have  better  weapons  of  war 
than  we,  but  we  have  greater  numbers.  If  we 
offer  a thousand  lives  for  one,  we  will  continue 
the  battle  till  you  are  all  destroyed.” 

Saying  this,  they  gave  a signal,  and  a storm 
of  arrows  and  javelins  pierced  the  air,  and  fell 
into  the  beleaguered  fortress.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  bold  tone  assumed  by  Cortez,  the  Span 
iards  were  in  great  dismay.  It  was  manifest 
to  all  that  their  destruction  wTas  certain  unless 
they  could  cut  their  way  through  the  enemy, 
and  escape  from  the  city.  The  extraordinary 
energies  of  this  iron  fanatic  still  remained  un- 
shaken. Calmly  he  reflected  upon  his  position, 
P 


226 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cortez  resolves  to  leave  the  city.  The  moving  towers.  The  retreat. 

examined  liis  resources,  and  formed  his  plans. 
The  Mexicans  had  barricaded  the  streets,  and 
had  broken  down  the  causeways,  to  prevent,  if 
possible,  the  escape  of  their  foes.  But  there 
was  no  longer  any  alternative  for  Cortez.  De* 
struction  was  certain  unless  he  could  effect  his 
escape.  He  decided  to  make  the  desperate  at- 
tempt at  midnight.  He  immediately  construct- 
ed moving  towers,  to  be  pushed  through  the 
streets  on  wheels,  at  the  head  of  his  columns, 
under  the  protection  of  which  his  soldiers  could 
force  their  way,  and  make  every  bullet  accom- 
plish its  mission.  A platform  on  the  top  could 
be  let  down,  affording  a bridge  to  the  roofs  of 
the  houses,  thus  placing  the  Spaniards  on  a 
level  with  their  assailants.  The  sides  of  the 
towers  were  amply  strong  to  repel  darts  and  ar- 
rows. Thus  protected  from  all  harm,  the  sharp- 
shooters could  sweep  the  streets  and  the  house- 
tops. 

At  midnight  the  retreat  was  commenced  in 
three  divisions.  Sandoval  led  the  van,  Alvara- 
do the  rear.  Cortez  took  command  of  the  cen- 
tre, where  he  placed  the  distinguished  prisoners, 
among  whom  were  a son  and  daughter  of  Mon- 
tezuma, and  several  of  the  high  nobles.  He 
also  carried  with  his  division  the  artillery,  the 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  227 


The  onset.  Arrival  at  the  canal. 

baggage,  and  a portable  bridge,  ingeniously  con- 
structed of  timber,  to  be  laid  over  the  breaches 
in  the  causeway.  In  profound  silence  the  army 
issued  from  their  quarters,  and  marched  firmly 
along  through  the  smouldering  and  gory  streets. 

' For  a little  time  they  advanced  unmolested ; 
but  the  Mexicans  were  watching  their  move- 
ments, and  were  silently  making  dispositions 
for  a tremendous  onset.  Suddenly  the  shout 
of  an  innumerable  multitude  and  the  clash  of 
arms  rose  fearfully  in  the  dark  night  air,  and 
from  every  quarter  the  natives  came  rushing 
on,  and  stones,  javelins,  darts,  and  arrows  rat- 
tled like  hail-stones  upon  helmet  and  buckler. 
Every  inch  of  the  way  was  now  contested.  The 
progress  of  the  Spaniards,  though  slow,  was  re- 
sistless, the  cannon  and  the  musketry  sweeping 
down  all  obstacles. 

At  last  they  arrived  at  one  of  the  numerous 
canals  which  every  where  intersected  the  city. 
The  bridge  was  destroyed,  and  the  deep  waters 
flowing  from  the  lake  cut  off  all  retreat.  The 
wooden  bridge,  prepared  for  such  an  emergence, 
was  thrown  across  the  chasm.  The  head  of 
the  Spanish  column  fought  its  way  over  suc- 
cessfully ; but,  unfortunately,  the  weight  of  the 
artillery  and  of  the  dense  throng  wedged  the 


228 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Imminent  peril.  Filling  the  breach.  Slow  advance. 

timbers  so  fast  into  the  stones  that  all  their  ef- 
forts could  not  again  remove  them.  Their  peril 
was  growing  every  moment  more  imminent,  as 
the  roused  natives  were  thronging  to  every  point 
where  the  retiring  foe  could  be  assailed.  They 
were  thus  compelled  to  leave  the  bridge  behind 
them. 

Advancing  precipitately,  the  Spaniards  soon 
arrived  at  a second  breach.  Here  they  found 
themselves  hemmed  in  on  all  sides,  and  they 
had  no  means  of  bridging  the  gap ; but,  plant- 
ing their  cannon  so  as  to  hold  the  natives  at 
bay,  every  available  hand  was  employed  in 
filling  the  chasm  with  stones  and  timbers  torn 
from  the  demolished  and  smouldering  dwellings. 
The  labor  was  difficult  and  perilous,  for  they 
were  incessantly  assailed  by  the  most  pelting 
storm  of  the  missiles  of  destruction. 

For  two  days  this  terrific  conflict  raged. 
Seven  breaches  in  the  canals  they  were  com- 
pelled thus  to  bridge  with  stones  and  timbers 
torn  from  the  adjacent  streets ; but  the  Span- 
iards still  slowly  advanced,  triumphing  with 
difficulty  over  every  obstacle  which  the  natives 
could  interpose.  Though  they  thus  sternly 
fought  their  way  along,  trampling  beneath  them 
the  mutilated  bodies  of  the  dying  and  of  the 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  229 


The  storm.  The  causeway.  Multitude  of  the  enemy. 

dead,  at  the  close  of  the  second  day  they  found 
their  foes  more  numerous  and  their  situation 
more  desperate  than  ever. 

As  the  gloom  of  night  again  descended,  a 
deeper,  heavier  gloom  rested  upon  all  in  the  heart 
of  the  Spanish  camp.  A wailing  storm  arose 
of  wind  and  rain,  and  nature  mourned  and  wept 
as  if  in  sympathy  with  the  woes  of  man.  Avail- 
ing themselves  of  the  darkness  and  of  the  up- 
roar of  the  midnight  tempest,  though  weary, 
faint,  and  bleeding,  they  urged  their  steps  along 
the  war-scathed  streets,  for  a time  strangely 
encountering  no  opposition.  But  when  they 
reached  the  long  causeway,  nearly  two  miles  in 
length  and  but  thirty  feet  wide,  by  which  alone 
they  could  reach  the  land,  a yell  of  exultation 
suddenly  rose  from  the  black  and  storm-lashed 
waters  of  the  lake,  loud  as  the  heaviest  thun- 
ders. The  whole  lake,  on  both  sides  of  the 
causeway,  seemed  alive  with  the  boats  of  the 
natives,  and  the  Spaniards  were  immediately 
assailed  by  the  swarming  multitudes,  who,  in 
the  fierce  and  maddened  strife,  set  all  danger 
at  defiance. 

War  never  exhibited  a more  demoniac  aspect. 
The  natives  opposed  their  advance,  crowded 
their  rear,  and  clambered  up  the  sides  of  the 


230 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Fury  of  the  attack.  Noche  triste.  Separation  of  the  Spaniards 

causeway,  attacking  the  foe  on  each  flank  with 
indescribable  fury.  Fresh  warriors  instantly 
rushed  into  the  place  where  their  comrades  had 
fallen,  and  those  in  the  rear  of  the  tumultuous 
mass  crowded  their  companions  in  the  front 
ranks  resistlessly  upon  the  compact  enemy. 

There  were  three  chasms  in  the  causeway 
broken  by  the  Mexicans  which  the  Spaniards 
were  compelled  to  bridge  in  the  darkness  and  the 
storm,  and  while  assailed  by  an  innumerable 
and  almost  an  invisible  foe.  Imagination  can 
not  compass  the  horrors  of  that  night.  Noche 
triste , dismal  night,  is  the  name  by  which  it 
has  ever  since  been  distinguished.  In  the  aw- 
ful confusion,  military  skill  and  discipline  were 
of  but  little  avail.  The  Spaniards  could  with 
difficulty  distinguish  friend  from  foe,  and  ere 
long  they  were  nearly  all  quite  swept  away  by 
the  torrent  rushing  so  resistlessly  upon  them. 

Cortez  succeeded  in  keeping  about  a hundred 
men  around  him,  and,  using  the  bodies  of  the 
dead  to  aid  him  in  bridging  two  chasms,  he  at 
length  reached  the  main  land.  The  horrid 
clamor  still  rose  from  the  darkness  of  the  cause- 
way as  his  companions,  left  behind,  were  strug- 
gling in  desperation  with  the  multitudes  who 
inclosed  them.  Cortez  heroically,  with  every 


TILE  BATTLE  UPON  THE  CAUSEWAY 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  233 

March  to  the  rescue.  ’ Destruction  of  a part  of  the  army. 

man  in  his  little  band  still  able  to  fight,  march- 
ed back  to  their  rescue.  A few  succeeded  in 
breaking  through  the  enemy,  and  joined  him. 
Multitudes  were  struck  down  or  hurled  into  the 
lake ; but  dreadful  was  the  anguish  of  Cortez 
as  he  heard,  piercing  through  the  clamor,  the 
cries  for  help  of  his  companions  who  were  seized 
by  the  natives  as  captives,  and  who  were  being 
borne  away  to  be  offered  in  sacrifice  to  their 
gods.  The  few  who  escaped,  exhausted  and 
bleeding,  clung  together  for  the  remainder  of 
the  night  near  the  village  of  Tacuba,  where  the 
causeway  reached  the  main  land. 

When  the  first  gray  of  the  lurid  morning 
dawned,  the  whole  length  of  the  causeway  was 
seen  covered  with  the  bodies  of  the  slain.  The 
chasms  were  clogged  up  with  fragments  of  ar- 
tillery, baggage-wagons,  dead  horses,  and  the 
corpses  of  Spaniards  and  natives.  The  feat- 
' ures  of  the  dead  were  distorted  by  all  the  hate- 
ful passions  of  the  strife.  A few  only  had  es- 
caped. Nearly  all  the  horses,  all  the  cannon, 
all  the  plundered  treasure,  and  all  the  baggage- 
wagons,  were  either  sunk  in  the  lake,  or  were 
floating  in  fragments  upon  its  surface.  The 
storm  had  passed  away,  and  the  placid  waters 
were  blackened  with  the  war-canoes  of  the  na- 


234 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Sorrow  of  Cortez.  They  flee  to  a temple. 

tives.  Not  even  a musket  remained  to  the 
Spaniards.  Bernal  Diaz  records  that  in  this 
bloody  night  eight  hundred  and  seventy  of  the 
Spaniards  perished.  More  than  four  thousand 
of  their  allies  were  also  slain. 

As  Cortez  gazed  upon  the  feeble  band  of 
mangled  and  bleeding  soldiers  which  now  alone 
remained  to  him,  even  his  stern  heart  was 
moved,  and  he  bowed  his  head  and  wept  bit- 
terly. We  can  not  regret  that  some  drops  of 
retributive  woe  were  wrung  from  the  heart  of 
that  guilty  conqueror.  He  had  overwhelmed 
a benighted  nation  with  misery.  Under  the 
divine  government,  such  a crime  can  not  go  un- 
punished, and  the  penalty  must  descend  either 
in  this  life  or  in  that  which  is  to  come. 

But  this  was  no  time  to  indulge  in  grief.  It 
was  necessary  immediately  to  find  some  shelter 
for  the  wearied  troops.  The  Mexicans  were 
preparing  to  renew  the  attack,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Tacuba  were  assembling  in  arms.  At 
a little  distance,  on  a rising  ground,  Cortez  dis- 
covered a large  stone  temple.  He  immediately 
took  possession  of  it,  and  here  found  not  only 
temporary  shelter,  but,  fortunately,  provisions 
for  his  almost  famished  troops.  Here,  for  a 
day,  the  Spaniards  beat  off  the  foe  who  inces- 
santly assailed  them. 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  235 


Condition  of  the  party.  March  over  the  mountains. 

“And  God  only  knows,”  says  Cortez,  “the 
toil  and  fatigue  with  which  it  was  accomplish- 
ed ; for  of  twenty-four  horses  that  remained  to 
us,  there  was  not  one  that  could  move  briskly, 
nor  a horseman  able  to  raise  his  arm,  nor  a 
foot-soldier  unhurt  who  could  make  any  effort.” 

They  were  now  on  the  western  side  of  the 
lake.  It  was  necessary  to  pass  around  the 
northern  shore  of  this  vast  expanse  of  water,  as 
the  country  was  there  thinly  populated,  and 
they  would  be  consequently  less  liable  to  at- 
tack. The  road  led  a distance  of  nearly  a hund- 
red miles  over  mountains  and  through  marshes 
to  the  eastern  shore.  From  there,  a march  of 
more  than  sixty-four  miles  was  necessary  be- 
fore they  could  reach  the  territory  of  Tlascala, 
which  was  the  first  point  where  they  could  hope 
for  any  relief. 

Under  the  guidance  of  a Tlascalan  soldier,  the 
despairing  band  commenced  its  march.  They 
advanced  the  first  day  and  night  but  nine  miles, 
fighting  incessantly  all  the  way.  For  six  days, 
with  hardly  any  respite,  they  continued  their 
retreat.  Their  only  food  they  gathered  as  they 
hurried  along,  of  berries,  roots,  and  green  corn. 
They  were  continually  assailed  by  the  indefati- 
gable foe  ; but  with  their  few  remaining  horses. 


236 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Value  of  the  liorses.  Courage  of  Cortez.  Shouts  of  defiance. 

their  steel  swords,  and  the  energies  which  Eu- 
ropean civilization  confers,  they  beat  off  their 
assailants  and  continued  their  flight.  As  the 
horses  were  needed  to  beat  off  the  swarming  foe, 
the  sick  and  wounded  were  compelled  to  hob- 
ble along,  as  they  could,  on  crutches.  “Next 
to  God,”  says  Cortez,  “ our  greatest  security 
was  in  our  horses.”  One  horse  was  killed.  The 
Spaniards  eagerly  devoured  his  flesh,  “not  leav- 
ing,” says  Cortez,  “even  his  skin,  or  any  other 
part  of  him,  so  great  were  our  necessities.” 

Cortez,  who  promptly  recovered  from  his  mo- 
mentary weakness,  manifested  the  utmost  se- 
reneness and  imperturbability  of  spirit,  shared 
every  hardship  of  the  soldiers,  and  maintain- 
ed their  confidence  in  him  by  surpassing  all 
in  the  gallantry  and  the  magnanimity  of  his 
courage. 

Exhausted  and  wounded  as  they  were,  it  re- 
quired the  toilsome  journey  of  a week  to  reach 
the  mountain  summits  which  encircle  the  great 
valley  of  Mexico.  As  they  approached  the  de- 
files of  these  mountains,  parties  of  the  enemy 
were  seen  here  and  there  in  increasing  numbers. 
The  natives  shouted  to  them  from  a distance 
insults,  defiance,  and  threats.  Marina,  who  for- 
tunately escaped  the  massacre  of  the  dismal 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  237 


Appearance  of  the  enemy.  Apprehensions  of  Cortez. 

night,  remarked  that  they  often,  in  exultant 
tones,  exclaimed, 

“Hurry  along,  robbers,  hurry  along;  you 
will  soon  meet  with  the  vengeance  due  to  your 
crimes.” 

The  significance  of  this  threat  was  soon  made 
manifest.  As  the  Spaniards  were  emerging 
from  a narrow  pass  among  the  cliffs  of  the 
mountains,  they  came  suddenly  upon  an  ex- 
tended plain.  Here,  to  their  amazement,  they 
found  an  enormous  army  of  the  natives  filling 
the  whole  expanse,  and  apparently  cutting  off 
all  possibility  of  farther  retreat.  The  sight  was 
sufficient  to  appal  the  most  dauntless  heart. 
The  whole  plain,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  ex- 
tend, seemed  as  a living  ocean  of  armed  men, 
with  its  crested  billows  of  banners,  and  gleam- 
ing spears,  and  helmets,  and  plumes.  Even  the 
heart  of  Cortez  for  a moment  sank  within  him 
as  his  practiced  eye  told  him  that  there  were 
two  hundred  thousand  warriors  there  in  battle 
array,  through  whose  serried  ranks  he  must  cut 
his  bloody  path  or  perish.  To  all  the  Span- 
iards it  seemed  certain  that  their  last  hour  had 
now  tolled ; but  each  man  resolved  to  sell  his 
life  as  dearly  as  possible. 

Cortez  immediately  assembled  his  band 


238 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  attack.  Superstition  of  the  Mexicans. 

around  him,  and  invigorated  them  with  a forci- 
ble harangue.  He  assured  them  that  there  was 
no  possible  hope  but  in  the  energies  of  despair ; 
but  that,  with  those  energies,  they  might  confi- 
dently expect  God’s  blessing,  for  they  were  his 
servants,  his  missionaries,  endeavoring  to  over- 
throw the  idols  of  the  heathen,  and  to  introduce 
the  religion  of  the  cross.  In  solid  column,  with 
their  long  spears  bristling  in  all  directions,  and 
clad  in  coats  of  mail  which  protected  a great 
part  of  their  bodies  from  both  arrow  and  spear, 
they  plunged  desperately  into  the  dense  masses 
of  the  enemy.  Wherever  this  solid  body  of 
iron  men  directed  its  course,  the  tumultuous 
throng  of  the  foe  was  pierced  and  dashed  aside, 
as  the  stormy  billows  of  the  ocean  yield  to  the 
careering  steamer.  The  marvelous  incidents 
of  this  fight  would  occupy  pages.  The  onset 
of  the  Spaniards  was  so  fierce  that  the  natives 
could  present  no  effectual  resistance  ; but  as 
the  Indians  were  compelled  to  retire  from  the 
front  of  the  assailing  column,  they  closed  up 
with  shouts  of  vengeance  and  with  redoubled 
fury  upon  the  flanks  and  the  rear.  Cortez  had 
heard  that  the  superstition  of  the  Mexicans  was 
such  that  the  fate  of  a battle  depended  upon 
the  imperial  banner,  which  was  most  carefully 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  239 


The  capture  of  the  standard.  The  natives  flee.  Arrival  at  Tlascala. 

guarded  in  the  centre  of  the  army.  If  that 
were  taken,  the  natives  deemed  themselves  for- 
saken by  their  gods,  and  in  dismay  would  break 
and  fly.  In  the  distance,  for  there  was  no 
smoke  of  artillery  to  darken  this  field  of  battle, 
he  saw  this  standard  proudly  waving  in  the 
breeze.  With  impetuosity  which  crushed  down 
all  opposition,  he  pushed  toward  it.  The  stand- 
ard-bearers were  stricken  down  and  pinned  to 
the  earth  with  lances.  Cortez,  with  his  own 
hand,  seized  the  sacred  banner,  and  as  he  waved 
it  aloft  his  soldiers  raised  a simultaneous  shout 
of  triumph. 

The  natives,  with  cries  of  rage,  grief,  and  de- 
spair, in  the  wildest  tumult,  broke  and  fled  to 
the  mountains.  Their  gods  had  abandoned 
them.  The  victory  of  the  Spaniards  was  com- 
plete. They  record,  though  doubtless  with  ex- 
aggeration, for  they  had  no  leisure  to  stop  and 
count  the  slain,  that  twenty  thousand  of  their 
enemies  were  left  dead  upon  that  bloody  field. 
With  new  alacrity  the  victors  now  pressed  on, 
and  the  next  day  entered  the  territory  of  the 
Tlascalans. 

Here  they  were  received  with  the  greatest 
kindness.  The  enmity  of  the  Tlascalans  against 
the  Mexicans  was  so  inveterate,  and  their  desire 


240 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Enmity  of  the  Tlascalans  against  the  Mexicans.  New  disasters. 

to  avenge  the  death  of  their  countrymen  so  in- 
tense, that  they  still  clung  tenaciously  to  the 
Spanish  alliance,  with  the  hope  that  new  re- 
sources might  arrive  which  would  enable  the 
Spaniards  to  retrieve  their  fallen  fortunes. 

In  the  hospitable  city  of  Tlascala  Cortez  al- 
lowed his  shattered  battalions  that  repose  which 
was  now  so  indispensable.  Nearly  all  his  men 
were  suffering  severely  from,  sickness,  fatigue, 
and  wounds.  But  here  the  Spanish  chieftain 
learned  of  new  disasters  which  had  befallen  him. 
A detachment  of  Spanish  soldiers,  who  were 
marching  from  Zempoalla  to  the  capital  as  a re- 
enforcement, had  been  cut  off  by  the  natives 
and  entirely  destroyed.  A small  party,  who 
had  been  sent  to  convey  some  treasures  from 
Tlascala  to  Vera  Cruz,  had  also  been  surprised 
and  destroyed  among  the  mountains.  When 
the  life  of  every  Spaniard  was  of  so  much  im- 
portance, these  w^ere,  indeed,  terrible  additional 
calamities. 

The  companions  of  Cortez  were  now  thor- 
oughly disheartened,  and  were  anxious  to  re- 
turn to  Vera  Cruz,  send  a vessel  to  Cuba  for 
some  transports,  and  abandon  the  enterprise ; 
but  the  indomitable  warrior,  though  lying  upon 
the  bed  in  a raging  fever,  and  while  a surgeon 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  241 


New  designs  of  Cortes.  Etforts  to  collect  recruits. 

was  cutting  off  two  of  his  mutilated  and  in- 
flamed fingers,  and  raising  a portion  of  the  bone 
of  his  skull,  which  had  been  splintered  by  the 
club  of  a native,  was  forming  his  plans  to  return 
to  Mexico  and  reconquer  what  he  had  lost. 
The  resources  at  his  command  still  appeared  to 
him  sufficient  to  form  a nucleus  around  which 
to  assemble  a new  army.  The  garrison  at  Vera 
Cruz,  with  its  artillery  and  military  stores, 
still  remained  unimpaired ; the  Tlascalans  and 
Zempoallans  continued  firm  in  their  alliance  ; 
and  he  still  could  assemble,  notwithstanding 
his  losses,  as  large  a force  as  accompanied  him 
in  his  first  march  into  Mexico.  He  therefore 
resolved  to  make  vigorous  and  prompt  prepara- 
tions to  prosecute  his  enterprise  anew.  He 
■wrote  to  his  sovereign  an  account  of  the  disas- 
ters he  had  encountered,  saying,  “I  can  not  be- 
lieve that  the  good  and  merciful  God  will  thus 
suffer  his  cause  to  perish  among  the  heathen.” 
With  great  energy  and  sagacity  he  aroused 
himself  for  this  new  effort.  He  made  special 
exertions  to  secure  the  cordial  co-operation  of 
the  Tlascalan  chiefs,  by  distributing  among 
them  the  rich  spoil  taken  in  his  last  battle. 
He  dispatched  four  ships,  selected  from  the  fleet 
captured  from  Narvaez,  to  Hispaniola  and  Ja- 

Q 


242 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Preparations  for  building  ships.  Remonstrance  of  his  companions. 

maica,  to  collect  recruits  and  supplies.  That  he 
might  secure  the  command  of  the  lake,  he  pre- 
pared, with  the  ready  aid  of  the  Tlascalans,  ma- 
terials for  building  twelve  vessels,  to  be  con- 
veyed in  pieces  by  the  men  of  burden  to  the 
lake,  there  to  be  put  together  and  launched  upon 
the  waters. 

The  companions  of  Cortez  had,  however,  by 
far  too  vivid  a recollection  of  the  horrors  of  the 
dismal  night  to  participate  in  the  zeal  of  their 
commander.  Murmurs  against  the  enterprise 
grew  louder  and  louder,  until  the  camp  was  al- 
most in  a state  of  mutiny.  They  assembled, 
and  appointed  a delegation  to  wait  upon  their 
commander,  and  remonstrate  against  another  at- 
tempt, with  his  broken  battalions,  to  subjugate 
so  powerful  an  empire.  Respectfully,  but  firm- 
ly, they  demanded  to  be  taken  back  to  Cuba. 
All  the  arguments  and  entreaties  of  Cortez  were 
of  no  avail  to  change  their  minds  or  to  allay 
their  anxieties. 

We  have  before  mentioned  that  a detach- 
ment of  soldiers  from  Vera  Cruz  had  been  cut 
off  by  the  natives.  The  assailing  force  was 
from  one  of  the  Mexican  provinces  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Tlascala,  called  Tepeaca.  The  soldiers, 
without  much  unwillingness,  consented  to  march 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  243 


The  foray.  Plunder.  The  Governor  of  Cuba  sends  ships  to  Vera  Cruz; 

to  their  region,  and  chastise  them  for  the  deed. 
The  enterprise  would  be  attended  with  but  lit- 
tle danger,  and  promised  a large  amount  of 
booty.  It  was  now  the  month  of  August. 
Cortez  headed  the  expedition,  and  in  the  foray 
of  a few  weeks,  after  an  enormous  slaughter  of 
the  Tepeacans,  reduced  the  province  to  subjec- 
tion, and  returned  to  Tlascala  laden  with  plun- 
der. Another  foray  was  soon  undertaken,  and 
then  another.  Thus,  for  five  months,  while  he 
was  collecting  recruits  and  accumulating  sup- 
plies, he  adroitly  kept  his  men  employed  in  va- 
rious military  expeditions  till  they  again  be- 
came accustomed  to  victory,  and  were  ready  to 
enter  upon  a wider  field  of  glory,  which  should 
open  before  them  more  brilliant  prospects  for 
wealth.  Fortune,  it  is  said,  helps  those  who 
help  themselves.  This  inflexibility  of  purpose 
and  untiring  energy  on  the  part  of  Cortez,  was 
accompanied  by  what  is  usually  termed  the 
gifts  of  peculiarly  good  fortune. 

The  Governor  of  Cuba,  unaware  of  the  disas- 
ter which  had  befallen  Narvaez,  sent  two  ships 
after  him  with  a supply  of  men  and  military 
stores.  These  vessels  were  decoyed  into  the 
harbor  of  Vera  Cruz,  the  stores  seized,  and  the 
men  were  easily  induced  to  enter  into  the  serv- 
ice of  Cortez. 


244 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Expedition  from  the  Governor  of  Jamaica.  Collection  of  arms. 

The  Governor  of  Jamaica  fitted  out  an  expe- 
dition of  three  ships  to  prosecute  an  expedition 
of  discovery  and  conquest.  They  were  very 
unfortunate,  and,  after  many  disasters,  these 
ships,  their  crews  being  almost  in  a famishing 
state,  cast  anchor  at  Vera  Cruz.  They  listen- 
ed eagerly  to  the  brilliant  prospects  which  Cor- 
tez held  out  to  them,  and  enlisted  under  his 
banner.  At  the  same  time,  it  also  happened 
that  a ship  arrived  from  Spain,  fitted  out  by 
some  private  merchants  with  military  stores, 
and  other  articles  for  traffic  among  the  natives. 
Cortez  immediately  purchased  the  cargo,  and 
induced  the  crew  to  follow  the  example  of  the 
others,  and  join  his  army.  At  last,  the  agents 
he  sent  to  Hispaniola  and  Jamaica  returned, 
with  two  hundred  soldiers,  eighty  horses,  two 
battering-cannon,  and  a considerable  supply  of 
ammunition  and  muskets.  Cortez  had  in  these 
various  ways  now  collected  about  him  eight 
hundred  and  eighteen  foot-soldiers,  eighty-six 
horsemen,  three  battering-cannon,  and  fifteen 
field-pieces. 

He  established  his  head-quarters  at  Tepeaca, 
on  a small  river  which  ran  into  the  lake.  The 
iron,  the  planks,  the  timber,  the  masts,  the  cord- 
age, and  the  materials  necessary  to  construct 


Battle  of  the  Dismal  Night.  245 


Equipping  the  fleet.  The  vessels  baptized. 

and  equip  a fleet  of  thirteen  brigantines,  were 
to  be  carried  a distance  of  sixty  miles,  over 
rough  roads,  on  the  shoulders  of  men.  Eight 
thousand  men  of  burden  were  furnished  by  the 
Tlascalans  for  this  work.  Tepeaca  was  two 
miles  from  the  shore  of  the  lake,  and  the  rivu- 
let upon  which  it  was  situated  was  shallow.  A 
v large  number  of  natives  were  employed  for  two 
months  in  deepening  the  channel,  that  the  ves- 
sels might  be  floated  down.  Though  the  Mex- 
icans made  many  attacks  while  the  brigantines 
were  being  built,  they  were  invariably  repulsed. 
At  length  the  fleet  was  finished,  and  the  whole 
army  was  drawn  up  to  witness,  with  all  the  ac- 
companiments of  religious  and  military  pomp, 
the  launching  of  the  ships.  Each  vessel  re- 
ceived a baptismal  name  and  a blessing  from 
Father  Olmedo.  They  glided  smoothly  down 
the  river,  and  were  wafted  out  upon  the  lake, 
a fleet  amply  strong  to  set  all  the  power  of  the 
Mexicans  at  defiance.  A general  shout  of  joy 
burst  from  the  lips  of  the  Spaniards  and  Tlas- 
calans as  they  observed  the  triumphant  success 
of  this  measure.  All  despondency  now  disap- 
peared, and,  sanguine  of  success,  the  whole  army 
was  eager  again  to  march  to  the  assault  of  the 
capital. 


246 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Preparations  for  defense. 


Cuitlahua 


Chapter  IX. 

The  Capital  Besieged  and  Cap- 
tured. 

TTTHILE  Cortez  was  thus  vigorously  pre- 
^ ▼ paring  to  renew  the  assault  upon  the  city 
of  Mexico,  the  Mexicans  were  no  less  busy  in 
their  preparations  for  defense.  Upon  the  death 
of  Montezuma,  the  crown  passed  to  his  more 
warlike  brother  Cuitlahua.  By  his  energies  the 
Spaniards  had  been  driven  from  the  metropolis, 
and  he  immediately,  with  great  vigor,  fortified 
the  city  anew,  and  recruited  and  drilled  his  ar- 
mies, now  familiar  with  the  weapons  of  Euro- 
pean warfare.  He  sent  an  embassy  to  the 
Tlascalans,  urging  alliance  against  a common 
foe,  and  endeavoring  to  incite  them  to  rise  and 
crush  the  Spaniards,  'who,  without  their  alli- 
ance, would  have  been  entirely  helpless.  The 
sagacity  of  Cortez,  however,  baffled  these  ef- 
forts, and  he  succeeded  in  binding  the  Tlasca- 
lans to  him  by  still  stronger  ties. 

Among  other  w^oes,  the  Spaniards  had  intro- 
duced the  small-pox  into  Mexico.  The  terri- 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  247 


Pestilence.  Guatemozin.  The  brigantines. 

ble  curse  now  swept  like  a blast  of  destruc- 
tion through  the  land.  The  natives  perished 
by  thousands.  Many  cities  and  villages  were 
almost  depopulated.  The  fearful  pestilence 
reached  the  Mexican  capital,  and  the  emperor, 
Cuitlahua,  soon  fell  a victim  to  its  ravages. 

Guatemozin,  the  son-in-law  of  Montezuma, 
was  then,  by  the  unanimous  acclaim  of  his 
countrymen,  placed  upon  the  throne.  He  was 
a young  man  of  high  reputation  for  ability  and 
force  of  character,  and  proved  himself  the  wor- 
thy leader  of  his  nation  in  this  dreadful  crisis 
of  its  fate.  Guatemozin  assembled  all  his  forces 
in  the  capital,  as  the  strongest  point  upon  which 
they  could  stand  upon  their  defense. 

Cortez  decided  to  make  the  assault  by  three 
divisions  of  the  army,  each  marching  over  one 
of  the  causeways.  Sandoval  was  to  command 
on  the  north,  Alvarado  on  the  west,  and  Olid 
on  the  south.  Cortez  reserved  to  himself  the 
command  of  the  brigantines,  which  were  to 
sweep  the  lakes,  and  drive  the  war-canoes  of 
the  natives  from  the  causeways.  Each  brig- 
antine was  manned  with  twenty-five  Spaniards, 
and  armed  with  a cannon,  whose  shot  would 
make  fearful  havoc  among  the  frail  and  crowd- 
ed canoes  of  the  Mexicans. 


248 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  fleet  is  attacked  The  Spanish  victorious. 

Guatemozin  immediately  foresaw  how  much 
he  had  to  dread  from  this  fleet,  and  decided 
that,  at  every  hazard,  he  must  attempt  its  de- 
struction. He  accordingly  assembled  an  enor- 
mous mass  of  canoes,  hoping  by  numbers  to 
overpower  the  enemy.  The  day  was  calm ; 
not  a ripple  disturbed  the  glassy  surface  of  the 
water,  when  a fleet  of  canoes,  in  numbers  which 
could  not  be  counted,  pushed  out  boldly  into 
the  lake  to  assail  the  brigantines  lying  at  an- 
chor. 

But  just  then,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  Span- 
iards and  to  the  dismay  of  the  Mexicans,  a fresh 
and  favorable  breeze  arose,  which  would  drive 
the  brigantines  resistlessly  through  the  swarm 
of  fragile  boats  which  were  approaching  them. 
The  sails  were  instantly  spread,  the  cannon 
were  loaded  almost  to  the  muzzle,  and  the  work 
of  death  began.  The  heavy  vessels  crushed  the 
canoes,  overturned  them,  drove  them  one  upon 
another  in  indescribable  confusion,  while  the 
merciless  shot  pierced  bones,  and  nerves,  and 
sinews,  and  the  surface  of  the  lake  was  cov- 
ered with  the  mutilated  bodies  of  the  dying 
and  of  the  dead.  The  water  was  red  with 
blood,  and  in  a short  time  the  fleet  was  de- 
stroyed ; but  few  of  the  boats  escaped.  The 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  249 


Dismay  of  the  Mexicans.  Cortez’s  skill. 

Mexicans,  from  their  house-tops,  gazed  with  dis- 
may upon  this  awful  scene  of  carnage,  and 
were  oppressed  with  fearful  forebodings  that  no 
degree  of  courage  and  no  superiority  of  num- 
bers could  avail  them  against  the  terrible  en- 
gines of  destruction  which  European  skill  had 
framed. 

Cortez  was  now  completely  master  of  the 
lake.  He  formed  his  brigantines  into  three  di- 
visions, to  cover  the  assailants  on  the  three 
causeways  and  to  protect  them  from  any  attack 
by  canoes.  He  thus  also  preserved  communi- 
cation, prompt  and  effective,  between  the  differ- 
ent divisions  of  his  army.  The  military  skill 
displayed  by  Cortez  in  all  these  arrangements 
is  of  the  highest  kind.  The  conquest  of  Mex- 
ico wTas  not  achieved  by  accident,  but  by  sa- 
gacity, persevering  energy,  and  patient  toil  al- 
most unparalleled. 

The  siege  was  now  prosecuted  with  the  most 
determined  vigor.  The  approaches  were  made 
along  the  three  causeways.  The  natives  had 
broken  down  the  bridges  and  reared  a succes- 
sion  of  formidable  barricades,  and  as  they  were 
driven  from  one  by  the  irresistible  force  of  ar- 
tillery, they  retired,  with  firmness  worthy  of  ad- 
miration, to  the  next,  there  to  maintain  their 


250 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  siege  continued.  Obstinate  resistance 

post  to  the  last  possible  moment.  The  brigan- 
tines approached  the  sides  of  the  causeways 
and  opened  a destructive  fire  upon  the  valiant 
defenders,  where  the  Spaniards  were  exposed 
to  no  danger  in  return.  Thus  for  nearly  three 
months,  by  day  and  by  night,  on  the  land  and 
on  the  water,  the  bloody  strife  was  continued. 

Cortez  was  astonished  at  the  obstinacy  and 
efficiency  of  the  resistance  effected  by  the  be- 
sieged. Gradually,  however,  the  besiegers  ad- 
vanced, carefully  filling  up  behind  them  the 
gaps  in  the  causeway,  that  they  might  easily, 
if  necessary,  effect  a retreat.  They  were  taught 
the  necessity  of  this  precaution  by  a terrible 
repulse  which  they  at  one  time  encountered. 
Guatemozin,  with  a quick  military  eye,  perceiv- 
ing that  the  causeway  occupied  by  one  of  the 
divisions  of  the  Spaniards  wTas  impassable  be- 
hind the  Spaniards  from  trenches  unfilled,  and 
broken  bridges,  and  the  ruins  of  barricades,  or- 
dered the  Mexican  troops  to  retire,  to  lure  the 
Spaniards  forward.  He  then  collected  an  enor- 
mous force,  dispatching  some  in  canoes  along 
shallows  wffiich  the  brigantines  could  not  ap- 
proach, and  then,  at  a signal  from  the  great 
alarm  drum  on  the  summit  of  the  temple,  whose 
doleful  tones  could  be  heard  for  miles,  the  whole 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  251 

Sortie  by  the  Mexicans.  Preparations  for  sacrifice. 

mass,  with  frantic  rage,  stimulated  by  hope, 
rushed  upon  the  foe.  The  sudden  assault,  so 
impetuous,  and  sustained  by  such  vast  num- 
bers, was  quite  successful.  The  Spaniards 
were  driven  back  in  confusion,  horsemen  and 
infantry  crowding  upon  each  other,  till  multi- 
tudes were  forced,  pell-mell,  horses,  and  can- 
non, and  men,  into  the  chasms.  Here  the  na- 
tives, in  their  light  canoes,  fell  furiously  upon 
them.  More  than  twenty  Spaniards  were  kill- 
ed outright,  and  forty,  mangled  and  bleeding, 
fell  alive  into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  There 
was  no  possible  escape  for  the  captives  from 
their  doom.  They  were  to  be  sacrificed  to  the 
gods. 

This  was  an  awful  reverse,  and  the  Spaniards 
were  horror-stricken  in  contemplating  the  fate 
of  their  captured  comrades.  The  capital  was 
that  night  illuminated  with  great  brilliance,  and 
the  splendor  of  the  great  pyramidal  temple, 
blazing  with  innumerable  torches,  gleamed  far 
and  wide  over  the  lake.  It  was  an  awful  spec- 
tacle to  the  Spaniards,  for  they  well  knew  the 
scenes  which  were  transpiring  on  that  lofty  al- 
tar of  idolatry.  The  preparations  for  the  sac- 
rifice could  be  distinctly  seen,  and  the  move- 
ments of  the  sacrificial  priests.  The  white 


252 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Torturing  the  captives.  The  sacrifice. 

bodies  of  the  victims  could  also  be  clearly  dis 
cerned  as  they  were  stripped  naked  for  the  tor- 
ture and  the  knife  ; and  when  the  awful  torture 
was  applied,  the  shrieks  of  the  wretched  suffer- 
ers pierced  the  still  night  air,  and  penetrated 
the  camp  of  the  Spaniards.  They  listened  ap- 
palled to  those  cries  of  agony,  imagining  that 
they  could  distinguish  each  victim  by  the  sound 
of  his  voice. 

This  awful  scene  is  thus  described  by  Diaz  : 
“ On  a sudden,  our  ears  were  struck  by  the  hor- 
rific sound  of  the  great  drum,  the  timbrels, 
horns,  and  trumpets  on  the  temple.  We  all 
directed  our  eyes  thither,  and,  shocking  to  re- 
late, saw  our  unfortunate  countrymen  driven  by 
blows  to  the  place  where  they  were  to  be  sac- 
rificed, which  bloody  ceremony  was  accompa- 
nied by  the  dismal  sound  of  all  the  instruments 
of  the  temple.  We  perceived  that  when  they 
had  brought  the  wretched  victims  to  the  flat 
summit  of  the  body  of  the  temple,  they  put 
plumes  upon  their  heads,  and  made  them  dance 
before  their  accursed  idols.  When  they  had 
done  this,  they  laid  them  upon  their  backs  on 
the  stone  used  for  the  purpose,  where  they  cut 
out  their  hearts  alive,  and  having  presented 
them,  yet  palpitating,  to  their  gods,  they  drew 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  253 


The  Mexicans  are  elated  by  their  victory. 

the  bodies  down  the  steps  by  the  feet,  where 
they  were  taken  by  others  of  their  priests.  Let 
the  reader  think  what  were  our  sensations  on 
this  occasion.  O heavenly  God!  said  we  to 
ourselves,  do  not  suffer  us  to  be  sacrificed  by 
these  wretches.  Do  not  suffer  us  to  die  so  cru- 
el a death.  And  then,  how  shocking  a reflec- 
tion, that  we  were  unable  to  relieve  our  poor 
friends,  who  were  thus  murdered  before  our 
eyes.” 

This  victory  elated  the  Mexicans  exceeding- 
ly. They  cut  off  the  heads  of  the  sacrificed 
Spaniards,  and  sent  them  to  the  adjacent  prov- 
inces, to  prove  that  their  gods,  now  appeased  by 
this  signal  offering  of  blood,  had  abandoned  the 
enemy.  The  priests  sent  the  assurance  far  and 
wide  that  victory  -was  now  certain,  as  the  or- 
acles had  returned  the  response  that  in  eight 
days  the  detested  enemy  should  be  entirely  de- 
stroyed. This  prediction  exerted  a great  influ- 
ence upon  a superstitious  people.  Many  of  the 
natives  who  had  joined  Cortez  deserted  his 
cause,  and  even  the  Tlascalans  began  to  waver. 
The  prudence  and  shrewdness  of  Cortez  again 
met  the  danger  and  averted  it.  For  eight  days 
he  made  no  advance,  but  merely  stood  on  the 
defensive.  The  predicted  time  having  expired, 


254 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Shrewdness  of  Cortez.  His  allies 

he  said,  “You  see  that  the  gods  have  deceived 
the  Mexicans.  They  have  espoused  our  cause.” 

The  fickle  people  immediately  returned  to 
their  stations,  and  others  joined  them,  so  that 
Cortez,  according  to  his  own  account,  now  found 
himself  at  the  head  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  Indians.  Gomara  and  Herrera  as- 
sert that  there  were  not  less  than  two  hundred 
thousand.  The  number  of  defenders  in  the 
Mexican  capital  can  not  with  accuracy  be  as- 
certained. It  is  estimated,  however,  from  va- 
rious considerations,  that  there  must  have  been 
at  least  two  hundred  thousand. 

The  Spaniards,  in  this  sanguinary  and  pro- 
tracted siege,  often  suffered  severely  for  want 
of  food.  With  apparent  reluctance,  the  histo- 
rians of  the  expedition  record  that  their  Indian 
auxiliaries  found  quite  an  abundant  supply  for 
themselves  in  the  bodies  of  their  enemies. 
Some  of  them  were  rather  ashamed  to  acknowl- 
edge that  their  auxiliaries  were  inveterate  can- 
nibals. Cortez,  however,  alludes  to  their  hor- 
rible repasts  quite  in  a tone  of  indifference. 

With  greater  caution  the  Spaniards  now  ad- 
vanced, fortifying  every  point  they  gained,  and 
preparing  a smooth  and  unobstructed  road  in 
their  rear.  Their  progress  was  exceedingly  slow, 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  255 


Progress  of  the  siege.  The  allies  in  the  city. 

and  it  was  necessary  to  adopt  every  possible 
precaution  against  an  enemy  who  had  manifest- 
ed such  unexpected  audacity  and  skill.  As  the 
Spaniards  pushed  forward,  the  Mexicans,  con- 
testing every  inch  of  the  way,  sullenly  retired, 
rearing  barricade  after  barricade,  and  digging 
ditch  behind  ditch.  But  artillery  and  Europe- 
an science  were  sure,  in  the  end,  to  triumph. 
Gradually  the  three  divisions  of  the  army  forced 
their  way  across  the  causeways,  and  entered  the 
streets  of  the  city.  But  here  the  defense  was, 
if  possible,  still  more  determined  and  sangui- 
nary. Every  street  was  a guarded  defile,  where 
every  obstacle  was  interposed  which  Mexican 
military  skill  could  devise.  Every  house  was 
a fortress,  from  whose  battlemented  roof  and 
loop-holed  windows  a shower  of  stones,  arrows, 
and  javelins  fell  upon  the  besiegers.  As  the 
Spaniards  gained  ground,  step  by  step,  they 
leveled  every  house,  and  left  entire  ruin  and 
desolation  behind  them. 

Day  after  day  and  week  after  week  of  this 
unparalleled  siege  lingered  along,  every  hour  of 
which  almost  was  a battle.  The  Mexicans  fell 
in  incredible  numbers.  The  horrors  of  pesti- 
lence and  famine  in  the  pent-up  city  were  soon 
added  to  the  awful  carnage  and  misery  of  war. 


256 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Sufferings  of  the  Mexicans.  The  public  square. 

The  brigantines  swept  the  lake,  cutting  off  near- 
ly all  supplies  by  water  for  the  valiant  yet  starv- 
ing defenders,  while  the  armies  on  the  cause- 
ways completely  invested  the  city  by  land. 
Wan  and  haggard,  these  unhappy  victims  of 
European  aggression,  even  when  all  hope  of 
successful  resistance  had  expired,  heroically  re- 
solved to  perish  to  the  last  man,  and  to  bury 
themselves  beneath  the  ruins  of  their  city. 

Even  the  heart  of  Cortez  was  touched  with 
the  almost  unearthly  misery  he  was  inflicting 
upon  an  unoffending  people.  Again  and  again 
he  sent  to  Guatemozin  demanding  capitulation ; 
but  the  proud  Mexican  monarch  rejected  every 
overture  with  indignation  and  scorn.  At  length 
the  three  divisions  of  the  army,  from  their  three 
different  points  of  attack,  penetrated  the  city  so 
far  as  to  meet  at  the  great  public  square.  The 
whole  western  portion  of  the  city  was  now  in 
the  power  of  the  besiegers.  The  starving  and 
dying  defenders  were  shut  up  in  a small  section 
of  less  than  one  fourth  of  the  capital. 

The  Spaniards,  now  sure  of  success,  pressed 
the  siege  with  new  ardor.  Their  forces  had 
met,  and  were  combined  in  the  great  square. 
The  avenues  connecting  with  the  country  were 
all  open  before  them,  so  that  they  could  freely 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  257 

Affairs  in  the  Mexican  camp.  A desperate  resolve. 

go  and  come.  The  lake  was  swept  by  the  brig- 
antines, and,  though  a swift  canoe  could  occa- 
sionally shoot  along  the  shore,  the  natives  could 
not  venture,  in  the  face  of  such  a force,  to  cross 
the  wide  expanse  of  water.  Affairs  in  the  Mex- 
ican camp  were  now  in  the  very  darkest  state 
of  misery  and  gloom. 

The  Mexicans  regarded  their  monarch  with 
superstitious  veneration.  Upon  his  life  all  their 
destinies  were  suspended.  His  voice  was  om- 
nipotent with  the  people.  After  long  deliber- 
ation, the  desperate  resolve  was  adopted  to  send 
Guatemozin  in  a canoe  across  the  broad  waters 
of  the  lake,  which  like  an  ocean  swept  around 
the  city,  to  the  eastern  shore.  But  Cortez,  ever 
on  the  alert,  anticipated  this  movement,  and  or- 
dered the  brigantines  to  maintain  the  most  vig- 
ilant watch.  The  Mexicans,  to  deceive  Cortez, 
sent  an  embassy  to  him  to  confer  upon  terms 
of  capitulation.  They  hoped  thus  to  engage  his 
attention  so  that  Guatemozin  could  escape  un- 
perceived, and,  having  roused  all  the  distant 
provinces,  who  would  spring  to  arms  at  his 
voice,  could  make  an  assault  upon  the  rear  of 
the  foe. 

Sandoval  was  now  placed  in  command  of  the 
brigantines.  He  observed  one  morning  sev- 
R 


258 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Pursuit.  The  monarch  captured.  His  dignity. 

eral  canoes,  crowded  with  people  and  plied  by 
strong  rowers,  shoot  from  the  city,  and  direct 
their  course  across  the  lake  toward  the  eastern 
shore.  The  signal  was  instantly  given  for  pur- 
suit. Unfortunately  for  the  Mexicans,  a favor- 
able breeze  sprang  up,  and  one  of  the  brigan- 
tines soon  drew  near  the  largest  boat.  The  can- 
non was  loaded,  and  heavily  shotted  and  aimed. 
The  gunner  stood  ready  with  his  lighted  torch. 
In  another  moment  the  fatal  discharge  would 
have  strewed  the  lake  with  the  fragments  of  the 
boat  and  the  mangled  bodies  of  the  slain.  The 
Mexicans,  regardless  of  their  own  lives,  but  in- 
tensely anxious  for  the  safety  of  their  sovereign, 
dropped  their  oars,  and  holding  up  their  hands 
beseechingly,  with  cries  and  tears,  besought  the 
Spaniards  not  to  fire,  exclaiming  that  the  em- 
peror was  there. 

Eagerly  the  precious  prize  was  seized.  The 
heroic  Guatemozin  with  dignity  surrendered 
himself  into  the  hands  of  his  victors,  asking  no 
favor  for  himself,  but  simply  requesting  that  no 
insult  might  be  offered  to  the  empress  or  his 
children,  who  were  in  the  boat  with  him.  With 
much  exultation,  the  captive  monarch,  who  was 
but  twenty-four  years  of  age,  was  conveyed  to 
the  shore,  and  conducted  into  the  presence  of 


THE  CAPTURE  OF  GUATEMOZIN. 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  261 


Guatemozin’s  fortitude.  Pretended  magnanimity  of  Cortez. 

Cortez.  Guatemozin  retained  his  fortitude  un- 
shaken. Looking  firmly  upon  his  conqueror, 
he  said,  loftily, 

“ I have  done  what  became  a monarch.  I 
have  defended  my  people  to  the  last  extremity. 
Nothing  now  remains  for  me  but  to  die.  Take 
this  dagger,”  he  continued,  placing  his  hand 
upon  the  one  which  Cortez  wore  at  his  side, 
“ and  plunge  it  into  my  bosom,  and  thus  end  a 
life  which  is  henceforth  useless.” 

Cortez  well  knew  how  to  act  the  part  of  mag- 
nanimity. He  was  by  instinct  a man  of  prince- 
ly manners.  Castilian  grace  and  dignity  ever 
shone  pre-eminent  in  his  movements.  He  en- 
deavored to  console  his  vanquished  foe,  whose 
bold  defense  commanded  his  respect. 

“You  are  not  my  captive,”  said  he,  “ but  the 
prisoner  of  the  greatest  monarch  of  Europe. 
From  his  great  clemency,  you  may  hope  not 
only  that  you  may  be  restored  to  liberty,  but 
that  you  may  again  be  placed  upon  the  throne 
which  you  have  so  valiantly  defended.” 

Guatemozin  had  no  confidence  in  the  word 
of  Cortez.  He  knew  well  the  perfidy  and  the 
treachery  which  had  marked  every  step  of  the 
invader’s  march  thus  far.  Proudly  disdaining 
to  manifest  any  concern  for  his  own  fate,  he 


262 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  Mexicans  surrender.  Loss  of  the  Spanish- 

plead  only  that  Cortez  would  be  merciful  to  his 
suffering  people.  The  conqueror  promised  com- 
passion if  Guatemozin  would  command  their 
instant  surrender.  This  was  promptly  done, 
and  the  command  was  instantly  obeyed.  The 
Mexicans  lost  all  heart  as  soon  as  they  learned 
that  their  monarch  was  a prisoner.  Cortez  im- 
mediately took  possession  of  the  small  portion 
of  the  city  which  still  remained  undestroyed. 

Thus  terminated  this  memorable  siege,  one 
of  the  most  remarkable  which  has  been  record- 
ed in  the  horrid  annals  of  war.  It  had  contin- 
ued for  seventy-five  days  of  almost  incessant 
conflict.  Almost  every  hour  the  fiercest  battle 
raged,  as  step  by  step  the  assailants,  with  the 
utmost  effort  and  difficulty,  crowded  back  the 
valiant  defenders.  No  less  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  Mexicans  perished  in  this 
awful  and  atrocious  siege.  The  Spaniards,  who 
wished  to  make  their  loss  appear  as  small  as 
possible,  admit  that  one  hundred  of  the  Span- 
ish soldiers  fell,  and  many  thousands  of  their 
allies. 

Nearly  the  whole  capital  was  now  but  a mass 
of  blackened  and  smouldering  ruins.  Its  nu- 
merous squares,  streets,  and  courts,  but  recent- 
ly so  beautiful  in  their  neat  order,  and  their  em- 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  263 


Appearance  of  the  captured  city. 

bellishments  of  shrubbery  and  dowers,  were 
now  clotted  with  blood  and  covered  with  the 
mangled  bodies  of  the  slain.  The  sight  was 
hideous  even  to  those  accustomed  to  ail  the  re- 
volting scenes  which  demoniac  war  ever  brings 
in  its  train. 

The  ground  was  covered  with  the  dead. 
Among  the  putrefying  heaps  some  wretches 
were  seen,  w'ounded,  bleeding,  and  crawling 
about  in  advanced  stages  of  those  loathsome 
diseases  produced  by  famine  and  misery. 

The  air  was  so  polluted  with  the  masses  of 
the  dead,  decaying  beneath  the  rays  of  a tropic- 
al sun,  that  Cortez  w’as  compelled  to  withdraw 
his  army  from  the  city  that  the  dead  might  be 
removed  and  the  streets  purilied.  For  three 
days  and  three  nights  the  causeways  were 
thronged  by  endless  processions  of  the  natives 
bearing  the  mouldering  corpses  from  the  city. 
But  the  Spaniards  were  insensible  to  the  woes 
which  they  had  inflicted  upon  others  in  their 
exultation  over  their  great  victory.  They  had 
conquered  the  enemy.  The  capital  was  in  their 
hands,  and  they  had  now  but  to  collect  the 
boundless  treasures  which  they  supposed  were 
accumulated  in  the  halls  of  Montezuma.  It 
was  on  Tuesday,  the  13th  of  August,  1521,  that 


264 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Piety  of  Cortez.  Searching  for  the  treasures 

the  conflict  ceased.  The  mighty  empire  of 
Mexico  on  that  day  perished,  and  there  remain- 
ed in  its  stead  but  a colony  of  Spain. 

On  the  very  day  of  the  capture  Cortez  search- 
ed every  spot  where  treasure  could  be  found, 
and  having  collected  every  thing  of  value,  re- 
turned to  his  camp,  “giving  thanks,”  he  says, 
“ to  our  Lord  for  so  signal  a reward  and  so  de- 
sirable a victory  as  he  has  granted  us.”  He 
continued  for  three  or  four  days  searching  eager- 
ly for  spoils,  amid  all  the  scenes  of  horror  pre- 
sented by  the  devastated  city.  All  the  gold 
and  silver  which  were  found  were  melted  down, 
and  one  fifth  was  set  apart  for  the  King  of 
Spain,  while  the  rest  was  divided  among  the 
Spaniards  according  to  their  rank  and  serv- 
ices. 

“Among  the  spoils  obtained  in  the  city,” 
says  Cortez,  in  his  dispatch  to  Charles  V., 
“were  many  shields  of  gold,  plumes,  panaches, 
and  other  articles  of  so  wonderful  a character, 
that  language  will  not  convey  an  idea  of  them, 
nor  could  a correct  conception  be  formed  of 
their  rare  excellence  without  seeing  them.” 

Still  the  booty  which  was  gained  fell  far 
short  of  the  expectation  of  the  victors.  The 
heroic  Guatemozin,  when  the  hope  of  success- 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  265 


The  native  allies.  Their  carousals. 

ful  defense  had  expired,  determined  that  the 
conquerors  should  not  be  enriched  by  the  treas- 
ures of  the  empire.  A vast  amount  was  conse- 
quently sent  out  in  boats,  and  sunk  to  the  bot- 
tom of  the  lake.  For  a short  time,  however, 
exultation  in  view  of  their  great  victory  caused 
both  the  commander  and  his  soldiers  to  forget 
their  disappointment ; love  of  glory  for  a mo- 
ment triumphed  over  avarice. 

The  native  allies  had  been  but  tools  in  the 
hand  of  Cortez  to  subjugate  the  Mexicans.  The 
.deluded  natives  had  thus  also  subjugated  them- 
selves. They  were  now  powerless,  and  the 
bond-servants  of  the  Spaniards.  Cortez  allow- 
ed them  to  sack  the  few  remaining  dwellings 
of  the  smouldering  capital,  and  to  load  them- 
selves with  such  articles  as  might  seem  valua- 
ble to  semi-barbarian  eyes,  but  which  would 
have  no  cash  value  in  Spain.  With  this  share 
of  the  plunder  they  were  satisfied,  and  their 
camp  resounded  with  revelry  as  those  fierce 
warriors,  with  songs  and  dances,  exulted  over 
the  downfall  of  their  ancient  foes.  Cortez 
thanked  them  for  their  assistance,  praised  them 
for  their  valor,  and  told  them  that  they  might 
now  go  home.  They  went  home,  soon  to  find 
that  it  was  to  them  home  no  more.  The  stran- 


266 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Spanish  revelries  and  religious  celebrations. 

ger  possessed  their  country,  and  they  and  their 
children  were  his  slaves. 

In  the  Spanish  camp  the  victory  was  honored 
by  a double  celebration.  The  first  was  purely 
worldly,  and  religion  was  held  entirely  in  abey- 
ance. Bonfires  blazed.  Deep  into  the  night 
the  drunken  revelry  resounded  over  the  lake, 
until  Father  Olmedo  remonstrated  against  such 
godless  wassail. 

The  next  day  was  appropriated  to  the  relig- 
ious celebration.  The  whole  army  was  formed 
into  a procession.  The  image  of  the  peaceful 
Virgin  was  decorated  with  tattered,  blackened, 
and  bloodstained  banners,  beneath  which  the 
Christians  had  so  successfully  struggled  against 
the  heathen.  With  hymns  and  chants,  and  in 
the  repetition  of  creeds  and  prayers,  this  piratic 
band  of  fanatics,  crimson  with  the  blood  of  the 
innocent,  moved  to  an  appointed  sanctuary, 
where  Father  Olmedo  preached  an  impressive 
sermon,  and  solemnized  the  ordinance  of  the 
mass.  The  sacrament  was  administered  to  Cor- 
tez and  his  captains,  and,  with  the  imposing  ac- 
companiments of  martial  music  and  pealing  ar- 
tillery, thanksgivings  were  offered  to  God. 

Bernal  Diaz  gives  the  following  quaint  and 
graphic  account  of  these  festivities  : “ After 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  267 


An  entertainment.  The  plant  of  Noah. 

having  returned  thanks  to  God,  Cortez  determ- 
ined to  celebrate  his  success  by  a festival  in 
Cuyoacan.  A vessel  had  arrived  at  Yilla  Rica 
with  a cargo  of  wine,  and  hogs  had  been  pro- 
vided from  the  island  of  Cuba.  To  this  en- 
tertainment he  invited  all  the  officers  of  his 
army,  and  also  the  soldiers  of  estimation.  All 
things  being  prepared,  on  the  day  appointed  we 
waited  on  our  general. 

“ When  we  came  to  sit  down  to  dinner,  there 
were  not  tables  for  one  half  of  us.  This  brought 
on  great  confusion  among  the  company,  and, 
indeed,  for  many  reasons,  it  would  have  been 
much  better  let  alone.  The  jplant  of  Noah 
was  the  cause  of  many  fooleries  and  worse 
things.  It  made  some  leap  over  the  tables 
who  afterward  could  not  go  out  at  the  doors, 
and  many  rolled  down  the  steps.  The  private 
soldiers  swore  they  would  buy  horses  with 
golden  harness.  The  cross-bow-men  would 
use  none  but  golden  arrows.  All  were  to  have 
their  fortunes  made. 

“ When  the  tables  were  taken  away,  the  sol- 
diers danced  in  their  armor  with  the  ladies,  as 
many  of  them  as  there  were,  but  the  dispropor- 
tion in  numbers  was  very  great.  This  scene 
was  truly  ridiculous.  I will  not  mention  the 


268 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Father  Olmedo.  Religious  ceremonies. 

names ; suffice  it  to  say,  a fair  field  was  open 
for  satire.  Father  Olmedo  thought  what  he 
observed  at  the  feast  and  in  the  dances  too 
scandalous,  and  complained  to  Sandoval.  The 
latter  directly  told  Cortez  how  the  reverend  fa- 
ther was  scolding  and  grumbling. 

4 4 Cortez,  discreet  in  all  his  actions,  immedi- 
ately went  to  Father  Olmedo,  and,  affecting  to 
disapprove  of  the  whole  affair,  requested  that 
he  would  order  a solemn  mass  and  thanksgiv- 
ing, and  preach  a sermon  to  the  soldiers  of  the 
moral  and  religious  duties.  Father  Olmedo 
was  highly  pleased  at  this,  thinking  it  had  orig- 
inated spontaneously  from  Cortez,  and  not 
knowing  that  the  hint  had  been  given  him  by 
Sandoval.  Accordingly,  the  crucifixes  and  the 
image  of  Our  Lady  were  borne  in  solemn  pro- 
cession, with  drums  and  standards.  The  Lita- 
ny was  sung  during  the  ceremony.  Father  Ol- 
medo preached  and  administered  the  sacrament, 
and  we  returned  thanks  to  God  for  our  victory.  ” 

But  now  came  the  hour  for  discontent  and 
murmuring.  The  excitement  was  over,  the 
din  of  arms  was  hushed,  the  beautiful  city  was 
entirely  destroyed,  and  two  hundred  thousand 
of  the  wretched  inhabitants,  whose  only  crime 
against  the  Spaniards  was  that  they  defended 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  269 


Discontent.  Clamors  of  the  army.  Cortez  yields. 

their  wives,  their  children,  and  their  homes, 
were  festering  in  the  grave.  In  counting  up 
their  gains,  these  guilty  men  found  that  the 
whole  sum  amounted  to  but  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  thousand  dollars.  Their  grievous 
disappointment  vented  itself  in  loud  complain- 
ings, and  was  soon  turned  into  rage.  They 
accused  Guatemozin  of  having  secreted  the 
treasure  which  had  been  hoarded  up,  and  de- 
manded that  he  should  be  put  to  the  torture  to 
compel  him  to  disclose  the  place  of  concealment. 
Cortez,  for  a time,  firmly  refused  to  yield  to  this 
atrocious  demand  ; but  the  clamor  of  the  disaf- 
fected grew  louder  and  louder,  until  at  last 
Cortez  was  accused  of  being  in  agreement  with 
Guatemozin,  that  he  might  appropriate  to  his 
own  use  the  secreted  treasure. 

Thus  goaded,  Cortez  infamously  consented 
that  the  unhappy  captive  monarch  should  be 
put  to  the  torture.  The  cacique  of  Tacuba, 
the  companion  of  Guatemozin,  and  his  highest 
officer,  was  put  to  the  torture  with  him.  A hot 
fire  was  kindled,  and  the  feet  of  the  wretched 
victims,  drenched  in  oil,  were  exposed  to  the 
burning  coals.  Guatemozin  had  nothing  to  re- 
veal. He  could  merely  assert  that  the  treas- 
ures of  the  city  were  thrown  into  the  lake. 


270 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Guatemozin’s  tortures.  Cortez  rescues  him 

With  extraordinary  fortitude  he  endured  the 
agony,  adding  additional  lustre  to  a name  ah 
ready  ennobled  by  the  heroism  with  which  he 
conducted  the  defense.  His  companion  died 
upon  this  bed  of  agony.  In  the  extremity  of 
his  torment,  he  turned  an  imploring  eye  'toward 
tlie  king.  Guatemozin,  it  is  recorded,  observ- 
ing his  look,  replied,  “Am  I,  then,  reposing 
upon  a bed  of  flowers  ?”  Cortez,  who  had  re- 
luctantly yielded  to  this  atrocity,  at  last  inter- 
posed, and  rescued  the  imperial  sufferer.  Cor- 
tez has  much  to  answer  for  before  the  bar  of 
this  world’s  judgment.  For  many  of  his  crim- 
inal acts  some  apology  may  be  framed,  but  for 
the  torture  of  Guatemozin  he  stands  condemn- 
ed without  excuse.  No  voice  will  plead  his 
cause.  Cortez  seemed  to  be  fully  aware  that 
it  was  not  a creditable  story  for  him  to  tell,  and 
in  his  dispatches  to  the  King  of  Spain  he  made 
no  allusion  to  the  event. 

It  was  a grievous  disappointment  to  Cortez 
that  so  little  treasure  was  obtained,  for  his  am- 
bition was  roused  to  send  immense  sums  to  the 
Spanish  court,  that  he  might  purchase  high  fa- 
vor with  his  monarch  by  thus  proving  the 
wealth  and  grandeur  of  the  kingdom  he  had 
subjugated.  Cortez  himself  accompanied  a 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  271 


Tne  divers.  Nature  of  the  Mexican  empire. 

party  of  practiced  divers  upon  the  lake,  and 
long  and  anxiously  conducted  the  search ; but 
the  divers  invariably  returned  from  the  oozy 
bottom  of  the  lake  empty-handed:  no  treasure 
could  be  found. 

It  has  before  been  mentioned  that  the  em- 
pire of  Mexico  consisted  of  a conglomeration 
of  once  independent  nations,  which  had  been  in 
various  ways  annexed  to  the  mammoth  empire. 
It  was  somewhat  like  Austria,  having  many 
Hungarys  and  Polands  ripe  for  revolt.  Cortez 
had  adroitly  availed  himself  of  these  disaffec- 
tions  in  accomplishing  his  wonderful  conquest. 
The  Zempoallans  and  Tlascalans  augmented  his 
ranks  with  fierce  warriors  nearly  two  hundred 
thousand  in  number.  There  were  many  prov- 
inces of  the  empire  on  the  north  and  the  west 
which  as  yet  no  European  foot  had  ever  en- 
tered. It  was  a question  whether  these  remote 
provinces  would  band  together  in  hostility  to 
the  Spaniards,  and  thus  indefinitely  protract  the 
conflict,  or  whether,  seeing  the  capital  in  ruins 
and  their  monarch  a captive,  they  would  admit 
the  hopelessness  of  the  strife,  and  yield  to  their 
conquerors. 

Far  and  wide,  through  the  valleys  and  over 
the  mountains,  the  tidings  of  the  annihilation 


272 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  various  Mexican  governments  yield  to  C ortez. 

of  the  Mexican  army  was  borne  by  the  Indian 
runners,  awakening  consternation  every  where 
in  view  of  the  resistless  power  of  the  victors. 
Some,  however,  who  were  restive  under  the 
Mexican  yoke,  were  not  unwilling  to  exchange 
masters.  To  the  great  relief  and  joy  of  Cortez, 
day  after  day,  envoys  flocked  to  his  presence 
from  powerful  nations  to  proffer  allegiance  and 
implore  clemency.  Cortez  received  them  all 
with  great  courtesy  and  hospitality,  and  took 
not  a little  pleasure  in  witnessing  the  amaze- 
ment with  which  these  embassadors  contem- 
plated the  power,  to  them  supernatural,  which 
the  Spaniards  wielded.  The  brigantines  spread 
their  sails  and  plowed  their  way,  with  speed 
which  no  canoe  could  equal,  over  the  foamy 
waters  of  the  lake.  The  cavalry  wheeled  and 
charged  in  all  those  prompt  and  orderly  evolu- 
tions to  which  the  war-horse  can  be  trained. 
And  when  the  heavy  artillery  uttered  its  roar, 
and  shivered  the  distant  rock  with  its  thunder- 
bolt, the  envoys,  amazed,  bewildered,  and  ap- 
palled, were  prepared  to  make  any  concessions 
rather  than  incur  the  displeasure  of  such  fear- 
ful foes. 

The  power  of  Cortez  was  now  unquestioned, 
and  Mexico  was  in  the  dust  before  him.  Still, 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc,  273 


Perplexity  of  Cortez.  His  treason.  Velasquez. 

the  conqueror  was  in  great  perplexity  respect- 
ing the  light  in  which  his  conduct  was  viewed 
in  the  court  of  his  stern  monarch,  Charles  V. 
While  engaged  in  the  slaughter  of  two  or  three 
hundred  thousand  people,  while  overrunning  na- 
tions and  establishing  new  governments,  he  was 
acting  not  only  without  authority  from  his  gov- 
ernment, but  in  direct  opposition  to  its  com- 
mands. Velasquez,  the  governor  of  Cuba,  was 
invested  with  authority  by  the  voice  of  the  em- 
peror, and  yet  Cortez  had  set  his  power  at  de- 
fiance. By  the  command  of  the  emperor,  ex- 
peditions had  been  fitted  out  to  prosecute  dis- 
coveries and  to  acquire  dominion  in  Mexico, 
and  yet  Cortez  had  audaciously  made  war  upon 
these  bands  marching  under  the  banner  of 
Spain.  He  had  slain  many,  taken  the  rest 
prisoners,  and  constrained  them,  by  bribes  and 
menaces,  to  join  his  marauding  army.  Cortez 
well  knew  that  this  was  treason,  and  that  he 
was  liable  to  answer  for  it  with  his  life.  He 
well  knew  that  Velasquez,  mortified  and  exas- 
perated, had  made  bitter  complaints  against  him 
at  court,  and  that  there  was  no  one  there  effect- 
ually to  plead  his  cause. 

Under  these  circumstances,  Cortez  awaited 
with  much  solicitude  the  next  arrival  from 

S 


274 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cortez’s  labors  Ilis  dispatches. 

Spain.  In  the  mean  time,  lie  made  every  pos- 
sible effort  to  transmit  gold  and  silver  to  the 
Spanish  monarch,  and  with  untiring  zeal  urged 
his  discoveries,  that  he  might  ennoble  himself 
and  win  the  gratitude  of  his  sovereign  by  add- 
ing to  the  wealth,  the  dominion,  and  the  fame 
of  his  native  kingdom.  Wishing  to  assume 
that  he  was  acting  humbly  as  the  servant  of 
his  king,  he  sent  him,  in  the  form  of  dispatches, 
a minute  account  of  all  his  movements. 

As  a specimen  of  these  dispatches,  the  read- 
er will  peruse  with  interest  the  following  ac- 
count of  the  last  two  days  of  the  siege.  This 
dispatch  is  dated  from,  the  City  of  Cuyoacan 
(Mexico),  May  loth,  1522.  This  city  was  on 
the  main  land,  at  the  end  of  one  of  the  cause- 
ways which  led  to  the  island  capital.  The  let- 
ter is  thus  humbly  addressed : 

“ Most  high  and  potent  Prince ; most  cath- 
olic and  invincible  Emperor,  King,  and  Loid.” 
This  narrative  of  the  siege  is  so  minute  as  to 
occupy  one  hundred  and  fifty  closely-printed 
octavo  pages,  and  gives  a circumstantial  account 
of  the  proceedings  of  each  day.  The  closing 
paragraphs  only  are  here  extracted.  The  nar- 
rative which  Cortez  gives  sometimes  differs,  in 
unimportant  particulars,  from  that  recorded  by 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  275 


An  extract.  Cortez’s  address  to  the  nobles. 

other  historians  of  the  campaign,  who  were  eye- 
witnesses of  the  scenes  which  they  described. 

“ As  soon  as  it  was  day,  I caused  our  whole 
force  to  be  in  readiness,  and  the  heavy  guns  to 
be  brought  out.  The  day  before,  I had  order- 
ed Pedro  de  Alvarado  to  wait  for  me  in  the 
square  of  the  market-place,  and  not  to  attack 
the  enemy  until  I arrived.  Being  all  assem- 
bled, and  the  brigantines  drawn  up  ready  for 
action  on  the  right  of  the  houses  situated  oil 
the  water,  where  the  enemy  were  stationed,  I 
directed  that  when  they  heard  the  discharge  of 
a musket,  the  land  force  should  enter  the  small 
part  of  the  city  that  remained  to  be  taken,  and 
drive  the  enemy  toward  the  water,  where  the 
brigantines  lay.  I enjoined  much  upon  them 
to  look  for  Guatemozin,  and  endeavor  to  take 
him  alive,  as  in  that  case  the  war  would  cease. 
I then  ascended  a terrace,  and,  before  the  com- 
bat began,  addressed  some  of  the  nobles  whom 
I knew,  asking  them  for  what  reason  their  sov- 
ereign refused  to  come  to  me  when  they  were 
reduced  to  such  extremities,  adding  that  there 
was  no  good  cause  why  they  should  all  perish, 
and  that  they  should  go  and  call  him,  and  have 
no  fears. 

“ Two  of  the  principal  nobles  then  went  to 


276 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Ciquacoacin’s  reply.  He  departs. 

call  the  emperor.  After  a short  time  they  re- 
turned, accompanied  by  one  of  the  most  consid- 
erable of  their  personages,  Ciquacoacin,  a cap- 
tain and  governor  over  them  all,  by  whose  coun- 
sels the  whole  affairs  of  the  war  were  conduct- 
ed. I received  him  with  great  kindness,  that 
he  might  feel  perfectly  secure  and  free  from  ap- 
prehensions. At  last  he  said  that  ‘ the  em- 
peror would  by  no  means  come  into  my  pres- 
ence, preferring  rather  to  die ; that  his  determ- 
ination grieved  him  much,  but  that  I must  do 
whatever  I desired.’  When  I saw  that  this  was 
his  settled  purpose,  I told  the  noble  messenger 
to  return  to  his  friends,  and  prepare  for  the  re- 
newal of  the  war,  which  I was  resolved  to  con- 
tinue until  their  destruction  wTas  complete.  So 
he  departed. 

“ More  than  five  hours  had  been  spent  in 
these  conferences,  during  wdiich  time  many  of 
the  inhabitants  were  crowded  together  upon 
piles  of  the  dead  ; some  wTere  on  the  water,  and 
others  were  seen  swimming  about  or  drowning 
in  the  part  of  the  lake  wThere  the  canoes  were 
lying,  which  was  of  considerable  extent.  In- 
deed, so  excessive  were  the  sufferings  of  the 
people,  that  no  one  could  imagine  how  they 
were  able  to  sustain  them  ; and  an  immense 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  277 


Loss  of  the  Mexicans.  Fifty  thousand  killed. 

multitude  of  men,  women,  and  children  were 
compelled  to  seek  refuge  with  us,  many  of 
whom,  in  their  eagerness  to  reach  us,  threw 
themselves  into  the  water,  and  were  drowned 
among  the  mass  of  dead  bodies.  It  appeared 
that  the  number  of  persons  who  had  perished, 
either  from  drinking  salt  water,  from  famine  or 
pestilence,  amounted  altogether  to  more  than 
fifty  thousand  souls. 

“In  order  to  conceal  their  necessitous  condi- 
tion from  our  knowledge,  the  bodies  of  the  dead 
were  not  thrown  into  the  water,  lest  the  brig- 
antines should  come  in  contact  with  them,  nor 
were  they  taken  away  from  the  places  where 
they  had  died,  lest  we  should  see  them  about 
the  city ; but  in  those  streets  where  they  had 
perished  we  found  heaps  of  dead  bodies  so  fre- 
quent, that  a person  passing  could  not  avoid 
stepping  upon  them  ; and  when  the  people  of 
the  city  flocked  toward  us,  I caused  Spaniards 
to  be  stationed  through  all  the  streets  to  pre- 
vent our  allies  from  destroying  the  wretched 
persons  who  came  out  in  such  multitudes.  I 
also  charged  the  captains  of  our  allies  to  forbid, 
by  all  means  in  their  power,  the  slaughter  of 
these  fugitives ; yet  all  my  precautions  were 
insufficient  to  prevent  it,  and  that  day  more 


278 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cannonading  the  city.  The  musketry. 

than  fifteen  thousand  lost  their  lives.  At  the 
same  time,  the  better  classes  and  the  warriors 
of  the  city  were  pent  up  within  narrow  limits, 
confined  to  a few  terraces  and  houses,  or  sought 
refuge  on  the  water;  but  no  concealment  pre- 
vented our  seeing  their  miserable  condition  and 
weakness  with  sufficient  clearness. 

‘ 6 As  the  evening  approached  and  no  sign  of 
their  surrender  appeared,  I ordered  the  two 
pieces  of  ordnance  to  be  leveled  toward  the  en- 
emy, to  try  their  effect  in  causing  them  to 
yield;  but  they  suffered  greater  injury  when 
full  license  was  given  to  the  allies  to  attack 
them  than  from  the  cannon,  although  the  lat- 
ter did  them  some  mischief.  As  this  was  of  lit- 
tle avail,  I ordered  the  musketry  to  be  fired. 
When  a certain  angular  space,  where  they  were 
crowded  together,  was  gained,  and  some  of  the 
people  thrown  into  the  water,  those  that  re- 
mained there  yielded  themselves  prisoners  with- 
out a struggle. 

“ In  the  mean  time,  the  brigantines  suddenly 
entered  that  part  of  the  lake,  and  broke  through 
the  midst  of  the  fleet  of  canoes,  the  warriors 
who  were  in  them  not  daring  to  make  any  re- 
sistance. It  pleased  God  that  the  captain  of  a 
brigantine,  named  Garci  Holguin,  came  up  be- 


The  Capital  Besieged,  etc.  279 


Capture  of  Guatemozin  Ilis  behavior. 

hind  a canoe  in  which  there  seemed  to  be  per- 
sons of  distinction  ; and  when  the  archers,  who 
were  stationed  in  the  bow  of  the  brigantine, 
took  aim  at  those  in  the  canoe,  they  made  a 
signal  that  the  emperor  was  there,  that  the  men 
might  not  discharge  their  arrows.  Instantly  our 
people  leaped  into  the  canoe,  and  seized  in  it 
Guatemozin  and  the  Lord  of  Tacuba,  together 
with  other  distinguished  persons  who  accompa- 
nied the  emperor. 

“ Immediately  after  this  occurrence,  Garci 
Holguin,  the  captain,  delivered  to  me,  on  a ter- 
race adjoining  the  lake,  where  I was  standing, 
Guatemozin,  with  other  noble  prisoners.  As  I, 
without  showing  any  asperity  of  manner,  bade 
him  sit  down,  he  came  up  to  me  and  said,  in  his 
own  tongue, 

“ 4 That  he  had  done  all  that  was  incumbent 
on  him  in  defense  of  himself  and  his  people, 
until  he  was  reduced  to  his  present  condition  ; 
that  now  I might  do  with  him  as  I pleased.’ 
He  then  laid  his  hand  on  a poniard  that  I wore, 
telling  me  to  strike  him  to  the  heart. 

“ I spoke  encouragingly  to  him,  and  bade 
him  have  no  fears.  Thus,  the  emperor  being 
taken  a prisoner,  the  war  ceased  at  this  point, 
which  it  pleased  God  our  Lord  to  bring  to  a 


280  Hernando  Cortez. 

Anniversary  of  the  capture  of  Mexico. 

conclusion  on  Tuesday,  St.  Hippolytus’s  day, 
the  thirteenth  of  August,  1521 ; so  that  from 
the  day  in  which  the  city  was  first  invested, 
the  3d  of  May  in  that  year,  until  it  was  taken, 
seventy-five  days  had  elapsed,  during  which 
time  your  majesty  will  see  what  labors,  dan- 
gers, and  calamities  your  subjects  endured,  and 
their  deeds  afford  the  best  evidence  how  much 
they  exposed  their  lives.” 

For  three  hundred  years,  while  Mexico  re- 
mained under  Spanish  rule,  the  anniversary  of 
this  victory  was  regularly  celebrated  with  all 
the  accompaniments  of  national  rejoicing. 


The  Conquest  Consummated.  281 


Discovery  of  the  Pacific. 


Cortez’s  elation. 


Chapter  X. 

The  Conquest  Consummated. 
7HTH  zeal  and  energy  which  never  slept, 


Cortez  fitted  out  several  expeditions  to 
explore  the  country,  to  study  its  geography,  and 
to  ascertain  its  resources.  One  party,  ascend- 
ing the  heights  of  the  Cordilleras,  gazed  with 
delight  upon  the  placid  expanse  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  and,  descending  the  western  declivity, 
planted  the  cross  upon  the  sandy  shores  of  that 
hitherto  unknown  sea.  Cortez  was  exceeding- 
ly elated  with  this  discovery,  for  he  considered 
it  another  bribe  with  which  to  purchase  the  fa- 
vor of  his  sovereign.  He  immediately  made 
arrangements  for  establishing  a colony  on  the 
Pacific  shores,  and  ordered  four  vessels  to  be 
built  to  prosecute  farther  discoveries.  He  lost 
no  time  in  transmitting  to  the  emperor  the  tid- 
ings of  this  great  achievement. 

14 1 have  received,  most  powerful  sire,”  he 
wrote,  “ some  account  of  another  sea  to  the 
south,  and  learned  that  at  two  or  three  points 
it  was  twelve,  thirteen,  and  fourteen  days’ jour- 


282 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cortez’s  dispatch.  He  sends  to  take  possession  of  the  coast 

ney  from  this  city.  The  information  gave  me 
much  pleasure,  for  it  appeared  to  me  that  the 
discovery  would  prove  a great  and  signal  serv- 
ice to  your  majesty,  especially  as  all  who  pos- 
sess any  knowledge  or  experience  in  navigation 
to  the  Indies  have  considered  it  certain  that 
the  discovery  of  the  South  Sea  in  these  parts 
would  bring  to  light  many  islands  rich  in  gold, 
pearls,  precious  stones,  and  spiceries,  together 
with  many  other  unknown  and  choice  produc- 
tions. The  same  has  been  affirmed  also  by 
persons  versed  in  learning  and  skilled  in  the 
science  of  cosmography.  With  such  views, 
and  a desire  that  I might  render  your  majesty 
a distinguished  and  memorable  service  in  this 
matter,  I dispatched  four  Spaniards,  two  by  one 
route  and  two  by  another,  who,  having  obtained 
the  necessary  information  as  to  the  course  they 
were  to  take,  set  out,  accompanied  by  several 
of  our  allies  as  guides  and  companions.  I or- 
dered them  not  to  stop  until  they  had  reached 
the  sea,  and  when  they  had  discovered  it,  to 
take  actual  and  corporal  possession  in  the  name 
of  your  majesty. 

“ One  of  these  parties  traveled  about  one 
hundred  and  thirty  leagues,  through  many  fine 
provinces,  without  encountering  any  obstacles, 


The  Conquest  Consummated.  283 


TLe  exploring  parties.  Release  of  the  captives. 

and  arrived  at  the  sea,  of  which  they  took  pos- 
session, and,  in  token  thereof,  set  up  crosses 
along  the  coast.  After  some  days  they  returned 
with  an  account  of  their  discovery,  and  inform- 
ed me  very  particularly  concerning  it.  They 
brought  with  them  several  of  the  natives  from 
that  quarter,  together  with  good  specimens  of 
gold  from  the  mines  found  in  the  provinces 
through  which  they  passed,  which,  with  other 
specimens,  I now  send  to  your  majesty. 

“The  other  party  were  absent  somewhat 
longer,  for  they  took  a different  course,  and 
traveled  one  hundred  and  fifty  leagues  before 
they  reached  the  sea,  of  which  they  also  took 
possession,  and  brought  me  a full  account  of 
the  coast,  with  some  of  the  natives  of  the  coun- 
try. I received  the  strangers  in  both  parties 
graciously,  and  having  informed  them  of  the 
great  power  of  your  majesty,  and  made  them 
some  presents,  I suffered  them  to  depart  on  their 
return  to  t-heir  own  country,  and  they  went 
away  much  gratified. 

“In  my  former  relation,  most  catholic  sire, 
I informed  your  majesty  that,  at  the  time  when 
the  Indians  defeated  me,  and  first  drove  us  out 
of  the  city  of  Tenochtitlan,  all  the  provinces  sub- 
ject to  that  city  rebelled  against  your  majesty 


284 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Rebuilding  the  city.  Power  ol  Cortez. 

and  made  war  upon  us  ; and  your  majesty  will 
see,  by  this  relation,  how  we  have  reduced  to 
your  royal  service  most  of  the  provinces  that 
proved  rebellious. 

“As  the  city,”  he  continues,  “of  Tenochtitlan 
was  a place  of  great  celebrity  and  distinction, 
and  ever  memorable,  it  appeared  to  me  that  it 
would  be  well  to  build  another  town  upon  its 
ruins.  I therefore  distributed  the  ground  among 
the  proposed  inhabitants,  and  appointed  alcaldes 
and  regidores  in  the  name  of  your  majesty,  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  your  realms ; and 
while  the  houses  were  going  up,  we  determined 
to  abide  in  the  city  of  Cuyoacan,  where  we  at 
present  are.  It  is  now  four  or  five  months 
since  the  rebuilding  of  the  city  was  commenced, 
and  it  is  already  very  handsome.  Your  majes- 
ty may  be  assured  that  it  will  go  on  increasing 
to  such  a degree  that,  as  it  was  formerly  the 
capital  and  mistress  of  all  these  provinces,  it 
will  still  be  so  hereafter.  It  is  built  so  far  and 
will  be  completed  in  such  a manner  as  to  ren- 
der the  Spaniards  strong  and  secure,  greatly  su- 
perior to  the  natives,  and  wdiolly  unassailable 
by  them.” 

The  power  of  Cortez  was  now  unlimited. 
The  whole  native  population  were  virtually  his 


The  Conqest  Consummated.  285 


Progress  of  affairs  in  Spain. 

slaves.  He  had  the  address  to  secure  the  friend- 
ly co-operation  of  the  principal  chiefs,  and  the 
Indians,  in  any  numbers  which  he  required, 
were  driven  by  them  to  their  reluctant  toil. 
The  Spaniards  assumed  the  office  of  overseers, 
while  the  naiives  performed  all  the  menial  and 
painful  labor.  Timber  was  cut  and  dragged 
by  the  men  of  burden  from  the  adjacent  for- 
ests, and  from  the  mins  of  Tenochtitlan  the  new 
and  beautiful  city  of  Mexico  rose  as  by  magic. 

Charles  V.,  King  of  Spain  and  Emperor  of 
Germany,  was  overwhelmed  by  the  cares  of  his 
enormous  empire.  The  scenes  transpiring  far 
away  in  the  wilderness  of  the  New  World,  im- 
portant as  they  were,  could  claim  but  a small 
share  of  his  attention.  Velasquez  succeeded 
in  gaining  very  influential  friends  at  court,  and 
plied  all  his  energies,  with  untiring  diligence,  to 
secure  the  disgrace  of  Cortez.  Pride,  ambition, 
and  revenge  alike  inspired  him  to  work,  if  pos- 
sible, the  min  of  the  bold  adventurer  who  had 
set  his  power  at  defiance.  The  sovereign  was 
at  this  time  in  Germany,  and  the  reins  of  gov- 
ernment in  Spain  were  temporarily  placed  in  the 
hands  of  Adrian,  who  had  been  private  tutor  of 
die  emperor. 

Influenced  by  the  coadjutors  of  "V  elasquez, 


286 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Warrant  against  Cortez.  The  commissioner.  His  reception. 

Adrian  issued  a warrant,  signed  at  Burgos  on 
the  11th  of  April,  1521,  which,  after  recapitu- 
lating the  offenses  of  which  Cortez  had  been 
guilty  against  the  majesty  of  the  Spanish  gov- 
ernment, appointed  a commissioner  to  repair  to 
Mexico,  seize  the  person  of  Cortez,  suspend  him 
from  his  functions,  sequestrate  his  property,  and 
bring  him  to  trial  upon  the  weighty  charges 
contained  in  the  indictment. 

The  accomplishment,  of  a task  so  difficult  re- 
quired a man  of  consummate  tact  and  energy ; 
but,  unfortunately,  the  agent  selected  was  to- 
tally unqualified  for  his  task.  Christoval  de 
Tapia,  the  appointed  commissioner,  was  a fee- 
ble, fussy  old  man,  a government  inspector  of 
metals  in  Saint  Domingo.  He  landed  at  Vera 
Cruz  in  December,  with  his  commission  in  his 
hand.  The  authorities  there,  quite  devoted  to 
Cortez,  and  fully  aware  that  in  his  fall  their 
fortunes  must  also  decay,  threw  every  obstacle 
in  their  power  in  the  path  of  Tapia.  They  dis- 
puted his  credentials,  and,  by  innumerable  em- 
barrassments, prevented  him  from  entering  the 
interior. 

Cortez,  on  the  other  hand,  while  cordially  ac- 
cepting this  important  co-operation  on  the  part 
of  his  friends,  the  more  valuable  since  it  did 


The  Conquest  Consummated.  287 


Tapia’s  weak  points.  Ilis  return.  Cortez's  dispatch. 

not  involve  him  in  any  responsibility,  wrote  to 
Tapia  a letter  full  of  expressions  of  courtesy, 
and  of  veneration  for  the  authority  of  the  em- 
peror. The  imbecile  old  man  soon  became  en- 
tangled in  a labyrinth  of  diplomacy  from  which 
he  knew  not  how  to  extricate  himself.  He  had 
not  sufficient  force  of  character  to  cut  the  tan- 
gled threads.  It  is  said  that  every  one  has  his 
weak  point.  Love  of  money  was  the  great  frail- 
ty of  Tapia.  United  with  this  there  was  great 
timidity  of  character.  Cortez,  with  his  accus- 
tomed tact,  discovered  the  peculiarities  of  the 
man,  and,  with  his  habitual  adroitness,  assailed 
him  where  his  armor  was  weak.  The  old 
man’s  fears  were  assailed  with  threats,  and  his 
avarice  was  approached  by  bribes,  and  he  very 
soon  capitulated.  Re-embarking  in  his  ship, 
he  returned  to  Hispaniola,  leaving  Cortez  in 
undisputed  authority. 

This  affair  alarmed  Cortez  exceedingly.  The 
account  which  he  himself  gives  of  it  in  his 
dispatch  to  the  emperor  is  so  curious  and  char- 
acteristic of  the  man,  that  we  must  give  it  in 
his  own  words.  The  dispatch  itself  will  be 
more  interesting  and  valuable  than  any  narra- 
tive we  might  give  of  the  event.  Upon  the 
departure  of  Tapia,  Cortez  immediately  sent 


288 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cortez’s  account  of  the  arrival  of  Tapia. 

deputies  to  the  emperor  with  a glowing  account 
of  his  new  discoveries  and  conquests,  with  many 
rich  gifts,  and  the  promise  of  immense  future 
contributions.  He  gave,  as  it  were  incidental- 
ly, an  account  of  the  mission  of  Tapia,  explain- 
ed with  great  naivete  the  reasons  of  its  fail- 
ure, and  implored  anew  that  he  might  be  in- 
trusted with  the  government  of  the  wide  realms 
which  his  skill  and  the  valor  of  his  followers 
had  attached  to  the  Spanish  crown. 

“ While  engaged  in  this  business,”  he  writes, 
“ I received  accounts  from  Yera  Cruz  of  the  ar- 
rival at  that  port  of  a ship,  in  which  came  Chris- 
toval  de  Tapia,  smelting  inspector  in  the  island 
of  Hispaniola.  The  next  day  I had  a letter 
from  him,  informing  me  that  the  object  of  his 
coming  to  the  country  was  to  assume  the  gov- 
ernment of  it  by  your  majesty’s  command,  and 
that  he  had  brought  with  him  his  royal  com- 
mission, which  he  should  nowhere  exhibit  until 
he  saw  us,  but  hoped  this  would  be  soon.  As, 
however,  the  horses  he  had  brought  were  affect- 
ed by  the  voyage,  he  was  not  able  to  set  out 
immediately,  and  begged  that  we  would  direct 
how  the  interview  should  take  place,  whether 
by  his  coming  here,  or  by  my  going  to  the  sea- 
eoast. 


The  Conquest  Consummated.  289 


Cortez  unable  to  visit  Tapia. 

“ As  soon  as  I had  received  his  letter,  I an- 
swered it,  saying  that  I was  much  pleased  with 
his  arrival ; that  no  one  could  come  provided 
with  an  order  from  his  majesty  to  assume  the 
government  of  these  parts  with  whom  I should 
be  better  pleased,  both  on  account  of  the  ac- 
quaintance that  existed  between  us,  and  the 
neighborly  intercourse  we  had  enjoyed  together 
in  the  island  of  Hispaniola. 

“ Tranquillity  not  being  firmly  established 
in  this  quarter,  and  any  novelty  being  likely  to 
estrange  the  natives,  I begged  Father  Urrea, 
who  has  been  present  in  all  my  labors,  and  who 
knew  well  the  situation  of  affairs  to  the  present 
moment,  and  by  whose  coming  your  majesty’s 
service  has  been  promoted,  and  ourselves  bene- 
fited by  his  spiritual  teachings  and  counsels, 
to  undertake  the  task  of  meeting  the  said  Ta- 
pia, and  of  examining  the  orders  of  your  majes- 
ty. Since  he  knew  better  than  any  one  what 
the  royal  interests,  as  well  as  those  of  this 
country,  required,  I requested  that  he  would 
give  such  directions  to  the  said  Tapia  as  he 
deemed  most  proper,  from  which  he  knew  I 
would  not  deviate  in  the  least  degree. 

“ I made  this  request  :n  the  presence  of  your 
majesty’s  treasurer,  who  joined  his  solicitations 
T 


290 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Father  Urrea  dispatched  to  Vera  Cruz. 

to  mine.  He  accordingly  departed  for  the  town 
of  Vera  Cruz,  where  the  said  Tapia  was;  and 
in  order  that  suitable  attentions  might  be  paid 
to  the  inspector,  either  in  the  town  or  wherev- 
er they  should  meet,  I dispatched  with  the  fa- 
ther two  or  three  respectable  persons  from  my 
companions,  and  when  they  had  gone  I waited 
the  issue.  In  the  mean  time,  I employed  my- 
self in  regulating  the  affairs  of  my  command, 
and  in  such  a way  as  best  to  promote  your 
majesty’s  interests,  and  the  peace  and  security 
of  these  parts. 

“ In  ten  or  twelve  days  after,  the  magistrate 
and  municipal  authority  of  Vera  Cruz  wrote  me 
that  the  said  Tapia  had  exhibited  the  orders  of 
your  majesty,  and  of  your  governors  acting  in 
the  royal  name,  which  they  had  treated  with  all 
suitable  reverence ; but  that  as  to  the  execu- 
tion of  the  orders,  they  had  answered  that,  since 
the  most  of  the  government  were  writh  me,  hav- 
ing been  concerned  in  the  siege  of  the  city,  they 
should  be  informed  of  them,  and  in  the  mean 
time  they  would  do  whatever  the  service  of 
your  majesty  and  the  good  of  the  country  re- 
quired. This  answer,  they  added,  was  received 
by  the  said  Tapia  with  great  displeasure,  and 
he  had  since  attempted  some  scandalous  things. 


The  Conquest  Consummated.  291 


Cortez  prepares  to  go  to  Vera  Cruz,  but  is  dissuaded. 

“Although  this  answer  occasioned  me  some 
regret,  I answered  them,  and  begged  and  en- 
treated that  they  would  look  chiefly  to  the  serv- 
ice of  your  majesty,  and  endeavor  to  content 
the  said  Tapia,  giving  him  no  occasion  for  mak- 
ing a disturbance ; and  that  I was  about  going 
to  meet  him,  and  to  comply  with  whatever  your 
majesty  commanded,  and  the  most  your  service 
required. 

“As  I was  now  preparing  to  depart,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  council  entreated  me,  with  many 
protestations,  not  to  go,  as  all  this  province  of 
Mexico,  having  been  but  a short  time  reduced, 
might  revolt  in  my  absence,  whence  much  in- 
jury would  be  done  to  your  majesty’s  service, 
and  great  disturbance  caused  in  the  country. 
They  also  urged  many  other  arguments  and 
reasons  why  it  was  inexpedient  for  me  to  leave 
the  city  at  present ; and  added  that  they,  with 
the  authority  of  the  council,  would  go  to  Vera 
Cruz,  where  the  said  Tapia  resided,  examine 
the  orders  of  your  majesty,  and  perform  all  that 
the  royal  service  demanded.  As  it  seemed  so 
essential  to  our  safety  that  the  said  councilors 
should  go,  I wrote  by  them  to  Tapia  informing 
him  of  what  had  passed,  and  that  I had  author- 
ized Gonsalvo  de  Sandoval,  Diego  de  Soto,  and 


292 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Embassadors  to  Tapia.  Delay  asked.  Departure  of  Tapia. 

Diego  de  Valdenebro,  who  were  then  in  the  town 
of  Vera  Cruz,  jointly  with  the  council  of  Yera 
Cruz  and  the  members  of  the  other  town  coun- 
cils, to  see  and  perform  whatever  the  service 
of  your  majesty  and  the  good  of  the  country  re- 
quired. 

“When  they  reached  the  place  where  the 
said  Tapia  was,  who  had  already  set  out  on  his 
journey  to  this  city,  accompanied  by  Father  Pe- 
dro, they  requested  him  to  return,  and  all  went 
together  to  the  city  of  Zempoalla,  where  Chris- 
toval  de  Tapia  presented  your  majesty’s  orders, 
which  all  received  with  the  respect  due  to  your 
majesty.  In  regard  to  their  execution,  they 
said  that  they  asked  some  delay  of  your  maj- 
esty as  demanded  by  the  royal  interests,  for 
causes  and  reasons  contained  in  their  petition, 
and  more  fully  set  forth  therein.  After  some 
other  acts  and  proceedings  between  the  inspec- 
tor Tapia  and  the  deputies,  lie  embarked  in  his 
own  ship,  as  he  had  been  requested  to  do,  since 
from  his  remaining,  and  having  published  that 
he  had  come  as  governor  and  captain  of  these 
parts,  there  would  have  been  disturbances. 

“ The  coming  of  the  said  Tapia,  and  his  want 
of  knowledge  respecting  the  country  and  its  in- 
habitants, had  already  excited  sedition,  and  his 


The  Conquest  Consummated.  293 


Advice  respecting  Tapia.  Reasons  for  not  sending  letters  by  him. 

stay  would  have  led  to  serious  evils  if  God  had 
not  interposed  to  prevent  it.  Much  greater 
service  would  have  been  rendered  to  your  maj- 
esty if,  while  he  was  in  the  island  of  Hispani- 
ola, instead  of  coming  hither,  he  had  first  ad- 
vised with  your  majesty.  The  said  Tapia  had 
been  often  advised  by  the  admiral,  judges,  and 
other  officials  of  your  majesty  residing  in  the 
island  of  Hispaniola  not  to  come  into  these 
parts  until  your  majesty  had  first  been  inform- 
ed of  all  that  had  taken  place  here,  and  on  this 
account  they  had  prohibited  his  coming  under 
certain  penalties,  which  prohibition,  however, 
by  means  in  his  power,  looking  more  at  his  in- 
dividual interest  than  the  service  of  your  maj- 
esty, he  had  succeeded  in  getting  removed. 

“ I have  prepared  this  account  of  every  thing 
in  relation  to  this  matter  for  your  majesty,  be- 
cause, when  the  said  Tapia  departed,  neither  the 
deputies  nor  myself  drew  up  any  statement,  as 
he  would  not  have  been  a suitable  bearer  of  our 
letters ; and  also  that  your  majesty  may  see  and 
believe  that,  by  not  receiving  the  said  Tapia, 
your  majesty  was  well  served,  as  will  be  more 
fully  established  whenever  it  shall  be  neces- 
sary.” 

While  thus  engaged,  Cortez  received  intellb 


294 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Insurrection.  Punishment.  Severe  chastisement. 

gence  that  the  province  of  Panuco  was  in  a 
state  of  insurrection.  As  most  of  his  captains 
were  absent  on  various  expeditions,  he  prompt- 
ly placed  himself  at  the  head  of  a force  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  horsemen,  two  hundred  and 
fifty  infantry,  and  ten  thousand  Mexicans,  and 
marched  to  inflict  such  punishment  upon  the 
rebels  as  should  intimidate  all  others  from  a 
similar  attempt. 

The  two  hostile  bodies  soon  met.  Accord- 
ing to  the  estimate  of  the  Spaniards,  the  num- 
ber of  the  enemy  amounted  to  above  seventy 
thousand  warriors.  “But  it  was  God’s  will,” 
the  historian  records,  “ that  we  should  obtain 
a victory,  with  such  a slaughter  of  the  rebels 
as  deprived  them  of  all  thought  of  making  any 
head  for  the  present.”  Cortez  ravaged  the 
country,  mercilessly  crushing  all  who  offered 
the  slightest  resistance.  Having  thus  quench- 
ed in  blood  the  flickering  flame  of  independence, 
he  returned  victorious  to  the  metropolis. 

Here  he  was  informed  that  some  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  neighboring  mountains  had 
manifested  a restive  spirit,  and  had  caused  dis- 
turbance in  other  peaceable  districts.  Sternly 
he  marched  to  chastise  them.  The  punishment 
was  prompt  and  severe ; thousands  were  shot 


The  Conquest  Consummated.  295 


Nuno  de  Guzman.  Influence  at  court.  Charges  against  Cortez. 

down,  and  their  chiefs  were  hanged.  “ They 
were  punished,”  says  Diaz,  “with  fire  and 
sword ; and  greater  misfortunes  befell  them 
when  Nuno  de  Guzman  came  to  be  their  gov- 
ernor, for  he  made  them  all  slaves,  and  sold 
them  in  the  islands.” 

The  father  of  Cortez,  -who  was  in  Spain,  and 
who  was  a man  of  much  elevation  of  character, 
now  came  forward  to  aid  his  son  with  his  influ- 
ence at  court.  Implacable  enemies  were  in- 
triguing against  the  bold  Spanish  adventurer 
in  the  court  of  Charles  V.,  who  had  returned 
from  his  long  absence  in  Germany,  and  w^as 
now  at  Madrid.  Don  Martin  Cortez  had  se- 
cured the  co-operation  of  a powerful  nobleman, 
the  Duke  of  Bejar.  The  young  monarch,  be- 
wildered by  the  accusations  which  were  brought 
against  Cortez  on  the  one  hand,  and  by  the  de- 
fense which  was  urged  upon  the  other,  referred 
the  wdiole  matter  to  a commission  specially  ap- 
pointed to  investigate  the  subject.  The  charges 
which  were  brought  against  him  were  serious 
and  very  strongly  sustained  by  evidence. 

1.  He  had  seized  rebelliously,  and  finally  de- 
stroyed, the  fleet  intrusted  to  him  by  Governor 
Velasquez,  whose  authority  he  was  bound  to 
obey. 


296 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Cortez’s  defense  to  the  charges  against  him 

2.  He  had  usurped  powers  in  contempt  of 
the  authority  of  his  lawful  sovereign. 

3.  He  had  made  war  upon  Narvaez,  who 
had  been  sent  with  full  authority  to  supersede 
him,  and  had  slain  many  of  his  companions. 
He  had  also  refused  to  receive  Tapia,  though 
he  was  invested  with  the  authority  of  the 
crown. 

4.  He  had  cruelly,  and  in  dishonor  of  the 
Spanish  name,  put  Guatemozin  to  the  torture. 

5.  He  had  remitted  but  a small  part  of  the 
treasures  obtained  to  the  crown,  squandering 
vast  sums  in  schemes  to  promote  his  own  ag- 
grandizement. 

6.  His  whole  system  of  procedure  was  one  of 
violence,  extortion,  and  cruelty. 

It  was  urged  in  defense, 

1.  Two  thirds  of  the  cost  of  the  expedition, 
nominally  fitted  out  by  Velasquez,  were  de- 
frayed by  Cortez. 

2.  The  interests  of  the  crown  required  that 
colonies  should  be  established  in  Mexico.  Ve- 
lasquez -was  invested  with  power  to  traffic  only, 
not  to  found  colonies  ; consequently,  Cortez,  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duty,  was  bound  to  estab- 
lish colonies,  and  to  send  to  the  crown  for  the 
ratification  of  the  deed,  as  he  had  done. 


The  Conquest  Consummated.  297 


Defense  triumphant.  Cortez  appointed  governor.  Ilis  powers. 

3.  It  was  the  wish  of  Cortez  to  meet  Narvaez 
amicably ; but  that  commander,  assuming  a hos- 
tile attitude,  had  compelled  Cortez  to  do  the 
same.  The  treatment  of  Tapia  was  defended 
as  in  the  dispatch  which  Cortez  had  transmit- 
ted to  the  emperor. 

4.  The  torture  of  Guatemozin  was  declared 
to  have  been,  not  the  act  of  Cortez,  but  of  one 
of  his  officers,  who  was  driven  to  it  by  the 
clamors  of  the  soldiers. 

5.  It  was  clearly  proved  that  Cortez  had 
transmitted  more  than  one  fifth  of  the  treasure 
obtained  to  the  crown.  It  was  also  pretty 
conclusively  proved  that  his  administration  was, 
in  general,  characterized  by  far-reaching  sagac- 
ity* 

The  defense  was  triumphant.  Cortez  was 
acquitted,  his  acts  were  confirmed,  and  he  was 
appointed  governor,  captain-general , and  chief 
justice  of  the  immense  empire  which  he  had 
subjugated.  The  power  with  which  he  was  in- 
vested was  vast — almost  unlimited.  He  was 
authorized  to  appoint  to  all  offices,  civil  and 
military.  He  could  also  banish  from  the  coun- 
try any  persons  whose  conduct  should  be  dis- 
pleasing to  him.  A large  salary  was  conferred 
upon  him,  that  he  might  maintain  the  splendor 


298  Hernando  Cortez. 

Letter  from  the  emperor.  Depression  of  his  enemies. 

becoming  his  rank.  His  officers  were  richly  re- 
warded. The  emperor  even  condescended  to 
write  a letter  to  the  little  army  in  Mexico  with 
his  own  hand,  applauding  the  heroism  of  the 
soldiers  and  the  grandeur  of  their  chieftain. 
This  wTas  one  of  the  greatest  of  the  victories  of 
Cortez.  The  depression  of  his  enemies  was 
equal  to  his  own  elation.  Velasquez  was 
crushed  by  the  blow.  He  survived  the  tidings 
through  a few  months  of  gloom,  and  then  sank 
into  the  grave,  the  only  refuge  for  those  weary 
of  the  world. 

When  the  envoys  arrived  in  Mexico  with  the 
decision  of  the  court,  they  were  received  with 
universal  rejoicing.  Every  soldier  of  Cortez 
felt  that  his  fortune  was  now  made.  But  their 
intrepid  commander  was  not  the  man  for  repose. 
New  discoveries  were  to  be  urged,  new  tribes 
subjugated,  and  far-distant  regions  explored. 
Murmurs  loud  and  deep'  soon  ascended  from  the 
disaffected,  who  now  wished  to  repose  from  toil 
in  the  enjoyment  of  their  wealth  and  honors. 
Here  is  a specimen  of  their  complaints : 

“ I will  now  relate,”  says  Diaz,  “ what  Cor- 
tez did,  which  I call  very  unfair.  All  those 
who  were  the  dependents  of  great  men,  who 
flattered  him  and  told  him  pleasing  things,  he 


The  Conquest  Consummated.  299 


Unfair  dealings.  Escape  from  remonstrants. 

loaded  with  favors.  Not  that  I blame  him  for 
being  generous,  for  there  was  enough  for  all ; 
but  I say  that  he  ought  to  have  first  consider- 
ed those  who  served  his  majesty,  and  whose 
valor  and  blood  made  him  what  he  was.  But 
it  is  useless  detailing  our  misfortunes,  and  how 
he  treated  us  like  vassals,  and  how  we  were 
obliged  to  take  to  our  old  trade  of  expeditions 
and  battles  ; for,  though  he  forgot  us  in  his  dis- 
tribution of  property,  he  never  failed  to  call 
upon  us  when  he  wanted  our  assistance.  When 
we  went  to  the  general  with  the  request  that  he 
would  give  us  some  part  of  the  property  which 
his  majesty  had  ordered  that  we  should  receive, 
he  told  us,  and  swore  to  it,  that  he  would  pro- 
vide for  us  all,  and  not  do  as  he  had  done,  for 
which  he  was  very  sorry.  As  if  we  were  to  be 
satisfied  with  promises  and  smooth  words ! ” 
Cortez  had  a very  effectual  way  of  escaping 
from  such  remonstrants.  He  immediately  dis- 
patched such  men  as  were  troublesome  on  some 
important  expedition,  where  all  their  energies 
of  mind  and  body  would  be  engrossed  in  sur- 
mounting the  difficulties  which  they  would  be 
called  to  encounter.  A man  by  the  name  of 
Rangel,  who  had  some  considerable  influence, 
was  complaining  bitterly.  Cortez  immediately 


300 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Expedition  to  Zapoteca.  Great  peril.  They  abandon  the  scheme. 

decided  that  the  distant  province  of  the  Zapote- 
cans  was  in  a threatening  attitude,  and  needed 
looking  after.  They  were  a fierce  people,  dwell- 
ing among  almost  inaccessible  cliffs,  where  no 
horse  could  climb  and  no  artillery  be  dragged. 
From  such  an  enterprise  it  was  little  probable 
that  the  troublesome  man  would  ever  return. 
He  was  consequently  honored  with  the  com- 
mand of  the  expedition.  For  apparently  the 
same  reason,  Bernal  Diaz,  whose  complaints  we 
have  just  read,  was  appointed  to  accompany  the 
detachment. 

The  forlorn  party  entered  boldly  the  defiles 
of  the  mountains,  and  wading  through  marshes, 
and  struggling  through  ravines,  and  clambering 
over  rocks,  with  the  utmost  difficulty  and  peril 
penetrated  the  savage  region.  The.  natives, 
nimble  as  the  chamois,  leaped  from  crag  to  crag, 
whistling  an  insulting  defiance  with  a peculiar- 
ly shrill  note,  with  which  every  rock  seemed 
vocal.  Stones  were  showered  down  upon  them, 
and  immense  rocks,  torn  from  their  beds,  leaped 
crashing  over  their  path.  Their  peril  soon  be- 
came great,  and  it  was  so  evidently  impossible 
to  accomplish  any  important  result,  that  they 
abandoned  the  expedition,  nearly  all  wounded, 
and  many  having  been  killed. 


The  Conquest  Consummated.  301 


Progress  of  the  new  city.  Cortez’s  palace.  Religious  zeal. 

During  the  period  of  four  years  Cortez  de- 
voted himself  with  untiring  zeal  to  the  promo- 
tion of  the  interests  of  the  colony.  The  new 
city  of  Mexico  rose  rapidly,  with  widened  streets 
and  with  many  buildings  of  much  architectural 
beauty.  Where  the  massive  temple  once  stood, 
dedicated  to  the  war-god  of  the  Aztecs,  and 
whose  altars  were  ever  polluted  with  human 
sacrifices,  a majestic  temple  was  reared  for  the 
worship  of  the  true  God.  Cortez  erected  for 
himself  a gorgeous  palace  fronting  on  the  great 
square.  It  was  built  of  hewn  stone.  All  the 
houses  constructed  for  the  Spaniards  were  mass- 
ive stone  buildings,  so  built  as  to  answer  the 
double  purpose  of  dwellings  and  fortresses. 

The  zeal  of  Cortez  for  the  conversion  of  the 
natives  continued  unabated.  In  addition  to  the 
spacious  cathedral,  where  the  imposing  rites  of 
the  Catholic  Church  were  invested  with  all  con- 
ceivable splendor,  thirty  other  churches  were 
provided  for  the  natives,  who  had  now  become 
exceedingly  pliant  to  the  wishes  of  the  con- 
queror. Father  Olmedo  watched  over  the  in- 
terests of  religion  with  great  purity  of  purpose 
and  with  unwearied  devotion  until  his  death. 
Twelve  Catholic  priests  were  sent  from  Spain. 
Benighted  as  they  were  in  that  dark  age,  the 


302  Hernando  Cortez. 

Catholic  priests.  Approach  to  the  metropolis.  Reception  by  Cortez. 

piety  of  many  of  these  men  can  hardly  be  ques- 
tioned. Cortez  received  them  with  great  dis- 
tinction. Immediately  upon  being  informed  of 
their  arrival  at  Vera  Cruz,  he  ordered  the  road 
to  Mexico  to  be  put  in  order,  to  render  their 
journey  easy,  and  houses  to  be  furnished,  at 
proper  distances,  with  refreshments  for  their  ac- 
commodation. The  inhabitants  of  all  the  towns 
along  their  route  were  ordered  to  meet  them 
with  processions  and  music,  and  all  demonstra- 
tions of  reverence  and  joy.  As  they  approach-* 
ed  the  metropolis,  Cortez,  at  the  head  of  a brill- 
iant cavalcade,  which  was  followed  by  a vast 
procession  bearing  crucifixes  and  lighted  tapers, 
set  out  to  receive  them.  The  Catholic  mis- 
sionaries appeared  with  bare  feet  and  in  the 
most  humble  garb.  Cortez  dismounted,  and, 
advancing  to  the  principal  father  of  the  frater- 
nity, bent  one  knee  to  the  ground  in  token  of 
reverence,  and  kissed  his  coarse  and  thread- 
bare robe.  The  natives  gazed  with  amazement 
upon  this  act  of  humiliation  on  the  part  of  their 
haughty  conqueror,  and  ever  after  regarded  the 
priests  with  almost  religious  adoration. 

When  conversion  consists  in  merely  inducing 
men  to  conform  to  some  external  ceremony, 
while  the  heart  remains  unchanged,  it  is  easily 


The  Conquest  Consummated.  303 

Success  of  the  missionaries.  Colonies.  Arrival  of  Donna  Catalina. 

accomplished.  The  missionaries,  with  great 
zeal,  embarked  in  the  enterprise  of  establishing 
the  Catholic  religion  in  every  village  of  the 
subjugated  empire.  They  were  eminently  suc- 
cessful, and  in  a few  years  almost  every  ves- 
tige of  the  ancient  idolatry  had  disappeared 
from  Mexico. 

Cortez  did  every  thing  in  his  power  to  induce 
the  natives  to  return  to  the  capital.  He  intro- 
duced the  mechanic  arts  of  Europe,  and  all  the 
industrial  implements  of  that  higher  civiliza- 
tion. The  streets  were  soon  again  thronged 
with  a busy  population,  and  the  Indian  and  the 
Spaniard,  oblivious  of  past  scenes  of  deadly 
strife,  mingled  together  promiscuously  in  peace- 
ful and  picturesque  confusion. 

Many  colonies  were  established  in  different 
parts  of  the  country,  and  settlers  were  invited 
over  from  Old  Spain  by  liberal  grants  of  land, 
and  by  many  municipal  privileges. 

In  the  midst  of  these  important  transactions, 
while  Cortez  was  living  quietly  with  the  ami- 
able Marina,  who  had  borne  him  a son,  a ship 
arrived  at  Vera  Cruz  bringing  Donna  Catalina, 
the  wife  of  the  wayward  adventurer.  This 
lady,  accompanied  by  her  brother,  weary  of  the 
solitude  of  her  plantation,  where  she  had  now 


304 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Death  of  Catalina.  Suspicions  of  murder. 

been  left  for  many  years,  came  in  search  of  lier 
unfaithful  spouse.  Cortez  made  great  preten- 
sions to  religion.  It  was  his  crowning  glory 
that  he  was  the  defender  of  the  faith.  It  would 
have  been  altogether  too  great  a scandal  to  have 
repudiated  his  faithful  wife. 

“ Cortez,”  says  Bernal  Diaz,  “ was  very  sor- 
ry for  their  coming,  but  he  put  the  best  face 
upon  it,  and  received  them  with  great  pomp  and 
rejoicing.”  In  three  months  from  this  time  the 
unhappy  Donna  Catalina  died  of  an  asthma. 
Her  death  was  so  evidently  a relief  to  Cortez, 
and  so  manifestly  in  accordance  with  his  wish- 
es, that  many  suspicions  were  excited  that  she 
had  fallen  by  the  hand  of  violence.  Though 
Cortez  had  many  enemies  to  accuse  him  of  the 
murder  of  his  wife,  there  is  no  evidence  what- 
ever that  he  was  guilty.  Cortez  had  many  and 
great  faults,  but  a crime  of  this  nature  seems 
to  be  quite  foreign  to  his  character.  The  ver- 
dict of  history  in  reference  to  this  charge  has 
been  very  cordially  Not  proven. 


Expedition  to  Honduras.  305 


The  natives  reduced  to  slavery. 


Chapter  XI. 

The  Expedition  to  Honduras. 
HE  great  object  of  the  Spanish  adventurers 


was  to  extort  gold  from  the  natives.  The 
proud  cavaliers  would  not  work,  and  the  na- 
tives were  not  willing  to  surrender  the  fruits  of 
their  toil  to  support  their  haughty  conquerors 
in  splendor.  Cortez  consequently,  though  re- 
luctantly, doomed  them  to  slavery.  They  were 
driven  by  the  lash  to  unpaid  toil.  It  was  an 
outrage  defended  only  by  the  despotic  assump- 
tions of  avarice.  The  Tlascalans,  however,  in 
acknowledgment  of  their  services  as  allies  of 
the  Spaniards,  were  exempt  from  this  degrada- 
tion. In  all  other  parts  the  wretched  natives 
toiled  under  their  task-masters,  in  the  fields  and 
in  the  mines,  urged  by  the  sole  stimulus  of  the 
lash.  The  country  thus  became  impoverished 
and  beggared,  and  masters  and  slaves  sank  to- 
gether. 

Cortez  had  now  reduced,  in  subjection  to  the 
crown  of  Spain,  an  extent  of  country  reaching 
along  the  Atlantic  coast  twelve  hundred  miles, 


IJ 


306 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Laws  and  institutions.  Colony  at  Honduras. 

and  extending  fifteen  hundred  miles  on  the  Pa- 
cific shore.  With  energetic  genius  which  has 
rarely  been  surpassed,  the  conqueror  establish- 
ed laws  and  institutions,  many  of  them  emi- 
nently wise,  for  this  vast  realm. 

Cortez  had  sent  one  of  his  captains,  Chris- 
toval  de  Olid,  to  Honduras,  to  found  a Spanish 
colony  there.  This  intrepid  man,  giddy  with 
the  possession  of  vast  power,  and  encouraged 
by  the  success  with  which  Cortez  had  thrown 
off  his  dependence  upon  Velasquez,  determined 
to  imitate  his  example,  and  assert  independence 
of  all  authority  save  that  of  the  Spanish  crown. 
But  Cortez  was  the  last  man  to  allow  his  au- 
thority to  be  thus  trifled  with.  He  immedi- 
ately sent  an  expedition  under  Francisco  Las 
Casas,  with  five  ships  and  a hundred  veteran 
Spanish  soldiers,  to  arrest  the  disobedient  offi- 
cer. With  pennants  flying,  Las  Casas  sailed 
from  Vera  Cruz,  and  was  rapidly  borne  by  pros- 
perous gales  around  the  immense  promontory 
of  Yucatan,  a voyage  of  nearly  two  thousand 
miles,  to  the  bay  in  Honduras  named  the  Tri- 
umph of  the  Cross,  where  Olid  had  established 
his  post.  Olid  opposed  his  landing,  but,  as 
many  of  his  soldiers  chanced  to  be  absent  in 
the  interior,  he  could  present  no  effectual  re- 
sistance. 


Expedition  to  Honduras.  307 


Olid  wrecked  and  taken  prisoner.  Cortez  starts  for  Honduras. 

After  a short  battle,  Olid,  hoping  for  the 
speedy  return  of  his  absent  forces,  applied  for 
a truce.  Las  Casas  weakly  consented  ; but 
that  same  night  a tempest  arose  which  wrecked 
all  his  ships,  and  thirty  of  the  crew  perished  in 
the  waves.  Las  Casas  and  all  of  the  remain- 
der of  his  party,  drenched  and  exhausted,  were 
taken  prisoners.  Olid  exulted  greatly  in  this 
unanticipated  good  fortune;  and,  considering 
his  foe  utterly  powerless,  released  the  men  upon 
their  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  him,  and 
retained  Las  Casas  surrounded  with  the  cour- 
tesies of  friendly  and  hospitable  captivity.  Aft- 
er a time,  however,  Las  Casas  succeeded  in 
forming  a conspiracy,  and  Olid  was  seized  and 
beheaded. 

Cortez  had  heard  of  the  wreck  of  the  ships. 
No  other  tidings  reached  him.  But  disaster 
ever  added  strength  to  his  energies.  Vigorous- 
ly he  fitted  otit  another  expedition,  and  headed 
it  himself.  Leaving  a strong  garrison  to  guard 
the  city  of  Mexico,  and  appointing  two  confi- 
dential officers  to  act  as  deputies  during  his  ab- 
sence, he  prepared  to  march  across  the  coun- 
try, a perilous  journey  of  five  hundred  leagues, 
through  a wilderness  of  mountains,  rivers,  lakes, 
and  forests.  Unknown  and  doubtless  hostile 


308 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Diaz’s  account.  The  two  captives 

tribes  peopled  the  whole  region.  It  was  one 
of  the  boldest  of  the  many  bold  adventures  of 
this  extraordinary  man.  He  has  given  a mi- 
nute narrative  of  the  march  in  a dispatch  to 
Charles  V.  Bernal  Diaz  also,  who  accompanied 
the  expedition,  has  given  an  interesting  yet 
gossiping  recital  of  all  its  wild  adventures. 

It  was  on  the  12th  of  October,  1524,  that 
Cortez  commenced  his  march  almost  due  south 
from  the  city  of  Mexico.  His  force  consisted, 
when  he  started  from  Mexico,  of  about  one 
hundred  Spanish  horsemen  and  fifty  infantry, 
together  with  about  three  thousand  Mexican 
soldiers.  Apprehending  that  Guatemozin  and 
the  cacique  of  Tacuba,  from  their  strong  influ- 
ence over  the  natives,  might  excite  disturbance 
during  his  absence,  he  took  them  as  captives 
with  him.  Several  Catholic  priests  were  taken 
to  conduct  the  services  of  religion,  and  to  con- 
vert the  heathen  tribes.  The  imperial  retinue, 
for  Cortez  now  moved  with  the  pomp  of  an  em- 
peror, was  conducted  on  the  grandest  scale  the 
time  and  the  occasion  would  admit.  A large 
herd  of  swine  followed  the’  army  a day's  jour- 
ney in  the  rear.  Most  of  the  food,  however, 
was  to  be  collected  by  the  way. 

By  the  aid  of  a rude  map  and  Indian  guides, 


Expedition  to  Honduras.  309 


Difficulties  to  be  encountered.  Marina  married  to  Xamarillo. 

Cortez  designed  to  ^irect  his  steps  across  the 
neck  of  the  broad  peninsula  of  Yucatan  to  the 
head  of  the  Bay  of  Honduras.  For  many  days 
their  path  conducted  along  a low  and  marshy 
country  intersected  by  innumerable  streams. 
Some  they  w ere  able  to  ford ; over  others  their 
ingenious  architects  would  speedily  throw  a 
bridge.  Occasionally  they  would  arrive  upon 
the  banks  of  a stream  so  wide  and  deep  that 
many  days  would  be  employed  in  rearing  a 
structure  over  which  they  could  pass.  Cortez, 
in  his  letter  to  Charles  V.,  enumerating  the  dif- 
ficulties encountered,  states  that  in  a distance 
of  one  hundred  miles  he  found  it  necessary  to 
construct  no  less  than  fifty  bridges. 

The  amiable  Marina  accompanied  Cortez  on 
this  expedition,  since  her  services  wrere  very  es- 
sential as  interpreter.  But  Cortez  now,  having 
buried  his  lawful  wife,  and  probably  looking 
fonvard  to  some  more  illustrious  Spanish  alli- 
ance which  might  strengthen  his  influence  at 
court,  regarded  Marina  as  an  embarrassment. 
He  therefore  secured  her  marriage  with  a Cas- 
tilian knight,  Don  Juan  Xamarillo.  A hand- 
some estate  was  assigned  to  the  newdy-married 
couple  in  the  native  province  of  Marina,  through 
which  the  expedition  passed  on  its  wTay  to  Hon- 


310 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Don  Martin  Cortez.  Demonstrations  of  homage. 

duras.  We  hear  of  Marina  no  more.  Her  son, 
Don  Martin  Cortez,  aided  by  the  patronage  of 
his  powerful  father,  became  one  of  the  most 
prominent  of  the  grandees  of  his  native  land. 
He  filled  many  posts  of  opulence  and  honor. 
At  last  he  was  suspected  of  treason  against  the 
home  government,  and  was  shamefully  put  to 
the  torture  in  the  Mexican  capital. 

As  Cortez  and  his  army  advanced  day  after 
day  through  provinces  where  his  renown  was 
known,  and  where  Spanish  adventurers  were 
established,  he  was  received  with  every  possi- 
ble demonstration  of  homage.  Triumphal  arch- 
es crossed  his  path.  Processions  advanced  to 
greet  him.  Provisions  were  brought  to  him  in 
abundance.  Bonfires,  with  their  brilliant  blaze, 
cheered  the  night,  and  festivities,  arranged  with 
all  the  possible  accompaniments  of  barbaric 
pomp,  amused  him  by  day.  He  arrived  at  the 
banks  of  a wide,  deep,  and  rapid  river.  To  his 
great  gratification,  he  found  that  the  natives  had 
collected  three  hundred  canoes,  fastened  two  and 
two,  to  ferry  his  army  across.  At  this  place 
Bernal  Diaz  joined  the  expedition.  Weary  of 
the  hardships  of  war,  he  complains  bitterly  that 
he  was  compelled  again  to  undergo  the  fatigues 
of  an  arduous  campaign. 


Expedition  to  Honduras.  311 


Complaints  of  Diaz.  Scarcity  of  provisions. 

“ The  general  ordered,”  he  says,  “all  the  set- 
tlers of  Guacacualco  who  were  lit  for  service  to 
join  his  expedition.  I have  already  mention- 
ed how  this  colony  was  formed  out  of  the  most 
respectable  hidalgos  and  ancient  conquerors  of 
the  country,  and  now  that  we  had  reason  to 
expect  to  be  left  in  quiet  possession  of  our  hard- 
earned  properties,  our  houses  and  farms,  we 
were  obliged  to  undertake  a hostile  expedition 
to  the  distance  of  fifteen  hundred  miles,  and 
which  took  up  the  time  of  two  and  a half  years ; 
but  we  dared  not  say  no,  neither  would  it  avail 
us.  We  therefore  armed  ourselves,  and,  mount- 
ing our  horses,  joined  the  expedition,  making, 
in  the  whole,  above  two  hundred  and  fifty  vet- 
erans, of  whom  one  hundred  and  thirty  were 
cavalry,  besides  many  Spaniards  newly  arrived 
from  Europe.” 

But  as  they  marched  resolutely  along,  week 
after  week,  over  mountains,  through  morasses, 
and  across  rivers,  the  country  became  more  wild 
and  savage,  the  natives  more  shy,  and  provis- 
ions less  abundant.  Several  days  were  often 
occupied  in  constructing  a bridge  to  cross  a riv- 
er. Scouts  were  sent  out  upon  either  wing  of 
the  army  foraging  for  food.  The  natives  fled 
often  from  their  villages,  carrying  their  food 


312 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Energy  and  forethought.  Construction  of  canoes. 

with  them.  Famine  began  to  stare  them  in 
the  face.  Sickness  diminished  the  ranks,  and 
emaciate  men,  haggard  and  way-worn,  tottered 
painfully  along  the  rugged  ways. 

But  the  indefatigable  energy  and  wonderful 
foresight  of  Cortez  saved  the  army.  He  seem- 
ed to  have  provided  for  every  emergency  which 
mortal  sagacity  could  anticipate.  One  day  the 
starving  army,  almost  in  despair,  came  to  the 
banks  of  a large  river.  The  broad  current  roll- 
ed many  leagues  through  a pathless  wilderness, 
and  emptied  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The 
army,  to  its  great  surprise,  found  fifty  large  ca- 
noes in  a little  sheltered  bay,  laden  with  pro- 
visions, and  awaiting  its  arrival.  The  river 
was  the  Tabasco.  At  its  mouth  there  was  an 
important  Spanish  colony.  Cortez  had  fore- 
seen the  want  at  that  point,  and  provided  the 
timely  supply. 

After  resting  here  for  a few  days  to  recruit, 
the  army  continued  its  march,  and  soon  came 
to  a river  so  wide  and  deep  that  they  could  not 
bridge  it.  Here  they  remained  four  days, 
while  every  skillful  hand  was  employed  con- 
structing canoes.  It  then  required  four  days 
more  for  the  immense  host  to  be  paddled  across 
in  these  frail  barks.  The  horses  swam  after  the 


Expedition  to  Honduras.  313 


The  slough.  Foraging  parties. 

boats,  led  by  halters.  Upon  the  other  side  of 
the  river  they  entered  upon  a vast  swamp,  ex- 
tending for  many  leagues,  and  tangled  by  the 
dense  growth  of  the  tropics.  They  were  three 
days  floundering  through  this  dismal  slough, 
the  horses  being  most  of  the  time  up  to  their 
girths  in  the  morass. 

From  this  gloomy  region  of  reptiles,  torment- 
ing insects,  and  mire,  they  emerged  upon  a fer- 
tile country,  where  they  found  an  abundance 
of  Indian  corn  or  maize.  But  the  terrified  in- 
habitants fled  at  their  approach.  Foraging  par- 
ties were,  however,  sent  out  to  plunder  the  vil- 
lages of  their  stores.  They  did  this  efficiently, 
and  the  encampment  was  again  filled  with  plen- 
ty. After  a halt  of  three  days,  the  soldiers, 
having  replenished  their  knapsacks  with  parch- 
ed corn,  again  took  up  their  line  of  march. 
Each  man  carried  food  for  three  days.  Some 
of  the  native  chiefs,  who  had  been  enticed  into 
the  camp,  deceived  them  with  the  assurance 
that  in  three  d&ys  they  would  arrive  at  a large 
city,  where  they  would  find  every  needful  sup- 
ply. They  soon  reached  the  banks  of  a broad 
river,  deep  and  rapid.  It  required  three  days 
to  construct  a bridge  to  cross  it.  The  knap- 
sacks were  now  empty.  They  were  hungry 


314 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  tangled  wilderness.  The  Indian  path. 

and  faint,  and  there  was  no  food  to  be  obtain- 
ed. Painfully  the  famishing  men  toiled  along 
another  day,  eating  the  leaves  of  the  trees,  and 
digging  up  roots  for  food.  Some  poisonous 
quality  in  this  innutritious  diet  parched  their 
lips  and  blistered  their  tongues.  To  add  to 
their  despair,  there  was  no  longer  any  path,  and 
the  dense  underbrush,  with  tough  vines  and 
sharp  thorns,  impeded  their  march  and  lacerated 
their  flesh.  The  trees  towered  above  them 
with  foliage  impenetrable  by  the  rays  of  the 
sun.  They  were  wandering  through  a dark 
and  dismal  wilderness,  from  which  there  was 
no  apparent  outlet,  compelled  with  sword  and 
hatchet  to  cut  every  step  of  their  way  through 
tangled  shrubs. 

Cortez,  guided  only  by  the  compass  and  a 
rude  Indian  map,  now  manifested  for  the  first 
time  deep  concern.  He  could  not  conceal  from 
his  companions  the  anxiety  which  oppressed 
him,  for  his  army  was  literally  starving.  He 
was  overheard  to  say,  “ If  we  aVe  left  to  strug- 
gle another  day  through  this  wilderness,  I know 
not  what  will  become  of  us.” 

Suddenly,  to  their  great  joy,  they  came  upon 
an  Indian  path.  This  soon  conducted  them  to 
a village.  The  inhabitants  had  fled,  but  the 


Expedition  to  Honduras.  315 


The  cannibal  chiefs.  Their  punishment.  Hostile  attitude. 

Spaniards  found  some  granaries  well  supplied 
with  corn.  During  this  terrible  march  of  sev- 
en days,  many  perished  by  fatigue  and  hunger. 
It  was  also  discovered  that  some  of  the  Mexi- 
can chiefs,  in  their  extremity,  had  seized  some 
of  the  natives  whom  they  encountered,  and  had 
killed  and  eaten  them.  The  bodies  were  baked, 
in  accordance  with  their  cannibal  customs,  in 
ovens  of  heated  stones  under  the  ground. 

“ Cortez,”  says  Bernal  Diaz,  “ severely  rep- 
rehended all  those  concerned,  and  one  of  the 
reverend  father  Franciscans  preached  a holy  and 
wise  sermon  on  the  occasion ; after  which,  by 
way  of  example,  the  general  caused  one  to  be 
burned.  Though  all  were  equally  guilty,  yet, 
in  the  present  circumstances,  one  example  was 
judged  sufficient.” 

After  a few  days’  rest  the  army  again  re- 
sumed its  march,  but  pioneers  were  sent  in 
advance  to  mark  out  the  way.  Their  course 
now  lay  for  many  leagues  through  a low  coun- 
try, abounding  in  lakes,  and  miasmatic  marsh- 
es, and  sluggish  rivers.  The  bayous  and  la- 
goons were  so  numerous  that  most  of  the  com- 
munication from  city  to  city  was  by  canoes. 
The  people  at  first  assumed  a hostile  attitude, 
but  soon,  overawed  by  the  magnitude  of  the 


316 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  soldiers  ravenous.  Influence  of  the  priests. 

force  of  Cortez,  they  with  great  obsequious- 
ness furnished  him  with  all  required  supplies. 
Still,  it  was  an  exceedingly  difficult  region  for 
the  army  to  traverse.  Many  days  were  labori- 
ously employed  in  bridging  the  innumerable 
streams.  One  wide  one  delayed  them  four 
days,  and  their  provisions  were  entirely  ex- 
hausted. Diaz,  a man  of  tact  and  energy,  was 
sent  with  a strong  party  to  forage  for  the  fam- 
ished camp.  He  returned  in  the  night  with  a 
hundred  and  thirty  men  of  burden  heavily  laden 
with  corn  and  fruit.  The  starving  soldiers, 
watching  their  return,  rushed  upon  them  like 
wolves ; in  a few  moments,  every  particle  of 
food  which  they  had  brought  was  devoured. 
Cortez  and  his  officers  came  eagerly  from  their 
tents,  but  there  was  nothing  left  for  them. 

But  even  in  this  strait,  when  the  soldiers  for- 
got entirely  their  generals,  and  even  refused  to 
save  any  for  them,  they  did  not  forget  their  spir- 
itual guides.  Every  soldier  was  anxious  to 
share  his  portion  with  the  reverend  fathers.  It 
speaks  well  for  these  holy  men  that  they  had 
secured  such  a hold  upon  the  affections  of  these 
wild  adventurers.  Though  superstition  doubt- 
less had  its  influence,  there  must  also  have 
been,  on  the  part  of  the  priests,  much  self-deni- 


Expedition  to  Hon  due  as.  317 


Care  for  the  officers.  Plot  against  two  chiefs. 

al  and  devotion  to  their  duties.  Diaz,  appre- 
hensive of  the  scene  of  plunder,  had  concealed 
at  a short  distance  in  the  rear  a few  loads  for 
the  officers,  which,  he  says,  they  went  and  got, 
with  great  gratitude,  when  the  soldiers  were  all 
asleep. 

For  eight  weary  days  the  army  now  toiled 
along,  struggling  against  hardships  and  hunger. 
Many  were  sick,  many  died,  and  not  a few,  in 
despair,  deserted  their  ranks,  and  endeavored  to 
find  their  way  back  to  Mexico.  Cortez,  know- 
ing full  well  the  heroism  of  his  two  captives, 
Guatemozin  and  the  cacique  of  Tacuba,  was 
now  very  apprehensive  that  they  might  take 
advantage  of  his  weakness,  incite  the  natives 
to  revolt,  and  thus  secure  his  destruction.  The 
peril  was  so  obvious  that  it  must  have  occurred 
to  every  mind.  The  Mexicans  knew  that  the 
Spaniards  were  now  in  their  power,  and  the 
Spaniards  could  not  deny  it. 

Under  these  circumstances,  Guatemozin  was 
accused  of  having  entered  into  a plot  to  assas- 
sinate the  Spaniards,  and  then  to  return  to 
Mexico  and  rouse  the  whole  native  population 
to  arms,  and  drive  the  invaders  from  the  coun- 
try. There  seems  to  have  been  but  little  proof 
to  substantiate  the  charge  ; but  the  undeniable 


318 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  chiefs  executed.  Their  heroism. 

fact  that  Guatemozin  could  now  do  this,  ex- 
cited to  the  highest  degree  the  anxiety  of  the 
ever-wary  Cortez.  The  stern  conqueror,  act- 
ing upon  the  principle  that  the  end  justifies  the 
means,  resolved  to  escape  from  this  peril  by  the 
death  of  his.  imperial  captive  and  the  Tacuban 
lord.  Cortez  accused  them  of  the  crime,  and, 
notwithstanding  their  protestations  of  inno- 
cence, ordered  them  both  to  be  hung.  A scaf- 
fold was  immediately  erected,  and  the  victims, 
attended  by  priests,  were  led  out  to  their  exe- 
cution.  Both  of  these  heroic  men  met  their 
fate  with  dignity.  As  the  monarch  stood  upon 
the  scaffold,  at  the  moment  of  his  doom  he 
turned  to  Cortez  and  said, 

“ I now  find  in  what  your  false  promises 
have  ended.  It  would  have  been  better  that  I 
had  fallen  by  my  own  hands  than  to  have  in- 
trusted myself  in  your  power.  Why  do  you 
thus  unjustly  take  my  life  ? May  God  demand 
of  you  this  innocent  blood.” 

The  Prince  of  Tacuba  simply  said,  “ I am 
happy  to  die  by  the  side  of  my  lawful  sover- 
eign.” 

They  were  then  both  swung  into  the  air,  sus- 
pended from  the  branches  of  a lofty  tree  by  the 
road-side.  There  are  many  stains  resting  upon 


Expedition  to  Honduras.  319 


Opinions  of  the  Spaniards.  Night  wanderings. 

the  character  of  Cortez,  and  this  is  not  among 
the  least.  Diaz  records,  “ Thus  ended  the  lives 
of  these  two  great  men  ; and  I also  declare 
that  they  suffered  their  deaths  most  undeserv- 
ingly ; and  so  it  appeared  to  us  all,  among 
whom  there  was  hut  one  opinion  upon  the  sub- 
ject, that  it  was  a most  unjust  and  cruel  sen- 
tence.” 

The  march  was  now  continued,  but  the  gloom 
which  ever  accompanies  crime  weighed  heavily 
upon  all  minds.  The  Mexicans  were  indignant 
and  morose  at  the  ignominious  execution  of 
their  chiefs.  The  Spaniards  were  in  constant 
fear  that  they  would  rise  against  them.  Even 
Cortez  looked  haggard  and  wretched,  and  his 
companions  thought  that  he  was  tortured  by 
the  self-accusation  that  he  was  a murderer. 
Difficulties  were  multiplied  in  his  path.  Fam- 
ine stared  his  murmuring  army  in  the  face. 
Sleep  forsook  his  pillow.  One  night,  bewil- 
dered and  distracted,  he  rose,  and  wandering  in 
one  of  the  heathen  temples,  fell  over  a wall,  a 
distance  of  favelve  feet,  bruising  himself  se- 
verely, and  cutting  a deep  gash  in  his  head. 
Still  they  toiled  along,  occasionally  coming  to 
towns  where  there  were  granaries  and  abund- 
ance, and  again,  in  a few  days,  as  they  could 


320 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Plenty  and  want.  The  terrible  march. 

carry  but  few  provisions  with  them,  finding 
themselves  in  a starving  condition.  Every  va- 
riety of  suffering  seemed  to  oe  allotted  them. 
At  one  time  they  arrived  upon  a vast  plain, 
spreading  out  for  leagues,  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  extend,  without  a bush  or  shrub  to  inter- 
cept the  sight.  A tropical  sun  blazed  down 
upon  the  panting  troops  with  blistering  heat. 
Many  deer,  quite  tame,  ranged  these  immense 
prairies.  At  another  time  they  approached  a 
large  lake  of  shallow  water,  and  upon  an  island 
in  its  centre  found  a populous  town.  The  sol- 
diers waded  to  the  island  through  the  clear  wa- 
ters of  the  lake.  They  found  fishes  very  abund- 
ant, and  again  had  a plentiful  supply  of  food. 

Thus  far  the  weather  had  been  fair  ; but  now 
it  changed,  and  a season  of  drenching  rains  com- 
menced. Still,  the  band,  impelled  by  their  in- 
domitable leader,  pressed  on.  They  now  en- 
tered upon  a very  extraordinary  region,  where 
for  leagues  they  toiled  through  dismal  ravines, 
frowned  upon  by  barren  and  craggy  rocks.  The 
ground  was  covered  with  innumerable  flint- 

O 

stones,  peculiarly  hard  and  sharp,  which,  like 
knives,  pierced  the  feet  of  the  men  and  the 
horses.  In  this  frightful  march  nearly  every 
horse  was  wounded  and  lamed,  and  eight  per- 


Expedition  to  Honduras  321 


New  embarrassments.  Famine. 

ished.  Many  of  the  men  also  suffered  severe- 
ly. The  difficulty  and  suffering  were  so  great, 
that  upon  emerging  from  this  rocky  desert  the 
army  was  assembled  to  return  solemn  thanks 
to  God  for  their  escape. 

But  now  they  encountered  new  embarrass- 
ments. The  streams,  swollen  by  the  rains, 
came  roaring  in  impetuous  torrents  from  the 
mountains,  and  the  intervales  and  the  wide- 
spreading  meadows  were  flooded.  One  stream, 
foaming  through  enormous  precipices,  emitted 
a roar  which  was  heard  at  the  distance  of  six 
miles.  It  required  three  days  to  throw  a bridge 
across  this  raging  mountain  torrent.  The  na- 
tives took  advantage  of  this  delay  to  flee  from 
their  homes,  carrying  with  them  all  their  pro- 
visions. Again  famine  threatened  the  camp. 
This  was,  perhaps,  the  darkest  hour  of  the 
march.  The  horses  were  lame.  The  men  were 
bleeding,  and  wayworn,  and  gaunt.  Death  by 
starvation  seemed  inevitable.  “ I own,”  says 
Diaz,  “ I never  in  my  life  felt  my  heart  so  de- 
pressed as  when  I found  nothing  to  be  had  for 
myself  or  my  people.” 

Cortez,  however,  sent  out  some  very  efficient 
foraging  parties  in  all  directions.  Impelled  by 
the  energies  of  despair,  the  detachment  succeed- 
X 


322 


Hernando  Cortez. 


They  reach  Taica.  Humility  of  Diaz. 

ed  in  obtaining  food.  This  strengthened  them 
until  they  reached  a large  town  called  Taica, 
where  they  again  rejoiced  in  abundance.  The 
rain  still  continued  to  fall  in  torrents,  and  the 
soldiers,  drenched  by  night  and  by  day,  toiled 
along  through  the  mire.  Even  Cortez  lost  his 
habitual  placidity  of  temper  and  began  to  com- 
plain. The  vain  and  gossiping  Diaz  would  not 
have  his  readers  unmindful  of  the  eminent  serv- 
ices he  rendered  in  these  emergencies.  With 
much  affected  humility  he  narrates  his  exploits. 

“ Cortez,’'  says  he,  “ returned  me  thanks  for 
my  conduct.  But  I will  drop  this  subject ; 
for  what  is  praise  but  emptiness  and  unprofit- 
ableness, and  what  advantage  is  it  to  me  that 
people  in  Mexico  should  tell  me  what  we  en- 
dured, or  that  Cortez  should  say,  when  he  want- 
ed me  to  go  on  this  last  expedition,  that,  next 
to  God,  it  was  me  on  whom  he  placed  his  re- 
liance ?” 

They  now  arrived  upon  the  banks  of  a river 
which  led  to  the  sea-coast.  At  the  mouth  of 
this  river  Olid  had  established  one  of  his  im- 
portant settlements.  A march  of  four  days  was 
required  to  reach  the  coast.  Cortez,  who  was 
entirely  ignorant  of  the  death  of  Olid,  and  of 
the  overthrow  of  his  power,  sent  forward  scouts 


Expedition  to  Hondukas.  323 


Cortez  finds  there  is  no  insurrection  to  be  quelled. 

to  ascertain  the  state  of  things,  as  it  was  his  in- 
tention to  fall  upon  Olid  by  surprise  at  night. 
The  army  moved  slowly  down  the  stream,  feed- 
ing miserably  upon  nuts  and  roots.  The  scouts 
returned  with  the  intelligence  that  there  were 
no  enemies  to  be  met ; that  the  insurrection 
was  entirely  quelled,  and  the  colony,  consisting 
of  several  scattered  settlements,  was  in  perfect 
subjection  to  the  authority  of  Cortez.  It  is 
difficult  to  imagine  the  feelings  with  which  this 
intelligence  was  received.  Cortez  must  have 
felt,  at  least  for  a few  moments,  exceedingly 
foolish.  The  Herculean  enterprise  of  a march 
of  eighteen  hundred  miles  through  a pathless 
wilderness,  peopled  with  savage  foes,  where 
many  hundreds  of  his  army  had  perished  from 
fatigue  and  famine,  and  all  had  endured  incon- 
ceivable  hardships,  had  been  utterly  fruitless. 
It  had  been  what  is  sometimes  called  a wild- 
goose  chase,  upon  a scale  of  grandeur  rarely 
paralleled. 

They  soon  arrived  at  a half-starved  colony  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  consisting  of  forty  men 
and  six  women.  The  energies  of  Cortez  were, 
however,  unabated.  Foraging  parties  were  sent 
out  to  plunder  the  natives,  which  was  done  pit- 
ilessly, without  any  apparent  compunctions  of 


324 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Exploring  tour.  The  brigantines.  Submission. 

conscience,  as  the  hunters  of  wild  honey  destroy 
the  bees  and  rob  the  hives.  Cortez  himself  set 
out  with  a strong  party  on  an  exploring  tour, 
and  returned  after  an  absence  of  twenty-six 
days,  sorely  wounded  in  the  face  from  a conflict 
which  he  had  with  the  natives.  If  the  natives 
assumed  any  attitude  of  resistance,  they  were 
shot  like  panthers  and  bears. 

Here  Cortez  built  two  brigantines,  and  sail- 
ed along  the  coast  some  three  hundred  miles  to 
Truxillo.  He  established  on  the  way,  at  Port 
Cavallo,  a colony,  to  which  place  he  ordered  a 
division  of  his  army  to  march.  Others  of  the 
troops  were  to  assemble  at  Naco,  quite  an  im- 
portant town,  where  Olid  had  been  executed. 
Cortez,  upon  his  arrival  at  Truxillo,  which  was 
the  principal  establishment  of  the  colony  in 
Honduras,  was  received  by  the  colonists  with 
great  distinction.  The  Indians  in  the  neigh- 
borhood were  immediately  assembled,  and  were 
urged  to  acknowledge  submission  to  the  King 
of  Spain,  and  to  adopt  the  Christian  religion. 
With  wonderful  pliancy,  they  acceded  to  both 
propositions.  “The  reverend  fathers,”  says 
Diaz,  “ also  preached  to  the  Indians  many  holy 
things  very  edifying  to  hear.”  From  this  place 
Cortez  sent  a dispatch  to  the  King  of  Spain, 


Expedition  to  Honduras.  325 


Present  to  the  king.  Disappointment  of  Cortez.  The  dispatches. 

and  also  a valuable  present  of  gold,  “taken,” 
says  Diaz,  “ in  reality  from  his  sideboard,  but 
in  such  a manner  that  it  should  appear  to  be 
the  produce  of  this  settlement.” 

Cortez,  to  his  extreme  disappointment,  found 
the  country  poor.  There  was  no  gold,  and  but 
little  food.  Worn  down  by  anxiety  and  fatigue, 
he  was  emaciated  in  the  extreme,  and  was  so 
exceedingly  feeble  that  his  friends  despaired  of 
his  life.  Indeed,  to  Cortez,  death  seemed  so 
near,  that,  with  forethought  characteristic  of 
this  enthusiast,  he  had  made  preparations  for 
his  burial. 

One  day,  as  Cortez,  in  the  deepest  dejection, 
was  conversing  with  his  friends,  a vessel  was 
discerned  in  the  distant  horizon  of  the  sea.  The 
ship  had  sailed  from  Havana,  and  brought  to 
Cortez  dispatches  from  Mexico.  He  retired  to 
his  apartment  to  read  them.  As  he  intently 
perused  the  documents,  his  friends  in  the  ante- 
chamber heard  him  groan  aloud  in  anguish. 
The  tidings  were  indeed  appalhng,  and  suffi- 
cient to  crush  even  the  spirit  of  Cortez.  For 
a whole  day  his  distress  was  so  great  that  he 
did  not  leave  his  room.  The  next  morning  he 
called  for  an  ecclesiastic,  confessed  his  sins,  and 
ordered  a mass.  He  then,  somewhat  calmed 


326 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Bad  news.  Reports  of  the  death  of  Cortez.  Troubles  in  Spain. 

by  devotion,  read  to  his  friends  the  intelligence 
he  had  received. 

It  was  reported  in  Mexico  that  the  whole 
party  which  had  entered  upon  the  expedition  to 
Honduras  had  perished.  Consequently,  all  the 
property  of  the  adventurers  had  been  sold  at 
public  auction.  The  funeral  service  of  Cortez 
had  been  celebrated  with  great  pomp,  a large 
part  of  his  immense  property  having  been  de- 
voted to  defray  the  expenses.  The  deputies 
whom  Cortez  had  left  in  charge  of  the  govern- 
ment had  quarreled  among  themselves,  and  two 
strong  parties  rising  up,  the  colony  had  been 
distracted  by  civil  war  and  bloodshed.  Every 
day  there  was  fighting.  The  natives,  encour- 
aged by  these  disorders,  had  revolted  in  three 
provinces.  A force  which  had  been  sent  to 
quell  the  insurrection  had  been  attacked  and  de- 
feated. 

The  same  dispatches  also  contained  a letter 
from  the  father  of  Cortez,  informing  him  that 
his  enemies  were  busy,  and  successful  in  their 
intrigues  in  the  court  at  Madrid,  and  that  two 
very  important  colonies  in  Mexico  had  been 
wrested  from  his  command,  and  placed,  by  or- 
der of  the  king,  under  the  government  of  others. 

Cortez  decided  to  return  immediately,  but 


Expedition  to  Honduras.  327 


The  attempted  voyage.  Fruitless  endeavors  to  recall  his  friends. 

privately,  to  Mexico.  His  enemies,  who  had 
usurped  the  government,  had  given  out  that  he 
was  dead.  Cortez  was  apprehensive  that,  were 
his  return  anticipated,  he  would  be  waylaid  and 
assassinated.  He  therefore  made  arrangements 
for  his  friends  to  return  by  land,  while  he  pri- 
vately embarked  for  Vera  Cruz.  A violent 
storm  arose,  with  head  winds,  and  the  vessel, 
after  struggling  a few  days  against  the  gale, 
was  compelled,  with  shattered  rigging,  to  re- 
turn to  Truxillo.  Again,  after  a few  days,  the 
vessel  weighed  anchor,  and  again  it  was  com- 
pelled to  return.  Cortez  now,  in  extreme  de- 
bility of  body  and  dejection  of  mind,  was  ex- 
ceedingly perplexed  respecting  his  duty.  “He 
ordered  a solemn  mass,”  says  Diaz,  “ and  pray- 
ed fervently  to  the  Holy  Ghost  to  enlighten  him 
as  to  his  future  proceedings.” 

He  now  decided  to  remain  in  Truxillo,  and 
to  unite  Honduras  and  Nicaragua  into  a colony 
which,  in  extent  and  resources,  would  be  wor- 
thy of  him.  He  dispatched  messengers  with 
all  speed  to  overtake  his  friends,  who  had  un- 
dertaken to  return  by  land,  and  recall  them  to 
Truxillo.  They,  however,  refused  to  return. 
Again  another  messenger  was  dispatched  to 
them  by  Cortez,  with  still  more  urgent  entreat- 


328 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Commissions.  The  usurpers  imprisoned. 

ies.  To  this  they  replied  by  a letter,  stating 
very  firmly  that  they  had  suffered  misfortunes 
enough  already  in  following  him,  and  that  they 
were  determined  to  go  back  to  Mexico.  San- 
doval, with  a small  retinue  on  horseback,  took 
this  answer  to  Cortez.  He  was  also  commis- 
sioned to  do  every  thing  in  his  power  to  per- 
suade Cortez  also  to  embark  again  for  Mexico. 

Though  thus  forsaken,  he  still  refused  to 
leave  Honduras.  Weakened  by  bodily  sick- 
ness, which  plunged  him  into  the  deepest  mel- 
ancholy, his  usual  energies  were  dormant.  He, 
however,  sent  a confidential  servant,  named 
Orantes,  with  a commission  to  Generals  Alvara- 
do and  Las  Casas,  who  had  returned  from  Hon- 
duras to  Mexico,  to  take  charge  of  the  govern- 
ment and  punish  the  usurpeis.  Orantes  per- 
formed his  mission  successfully.  The  people, 
hearing  with  joy  that  Cortez  was  safe,  rallied 
around  the  newly-appointed  deputies,  and  the 
prominent  usurpers  were  seized  and  imprisoned 
in  a timber  cage.  Cortez  remained  in  Hondu- 
ras until  he  received  intelligence  that  the  dis- 
turbances in  Mexico  were  quelled.  He  now 
decided  to  leave  the  government  of  Honduras 
in  the  hands  of  a lieutenant,  and  to  return  to 
Mexico.  His  health,  however,  was  so  very 


Expedition  to  Honduras.  329 


Poor  health  of  Cortez.  His  return  to  Mexico. 

feeble  that  he  hardly  expected  to  survive  the 
voyage.  He  therefore,  before  embarking,  con- 
fessed his  sins,  partook  of  the  sacrament,  and 
settled  all  his  worldly  affairs. 

It  was  on  the  25th  of  April,  1526,  that  the 
pale  and  emaciate  adventurer,  accompanied  by 
a few  followers,  embarked  on  board  a brigantine 
in  the  anchorage  at  Truxillo.  The  morning 
was  serene  and  cloudless,  and  a fresh  breeze 
filled  the  unfurled  sails.  Rapidly  the  low  line 
of  the  shores  of  Honduras  sank  below  the  hori- 
zon, and  Cortez  bade  them  adieu  forever. 


330 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  party  are  obliged  to  put  into  Havana  for  repairs. 


Chapter  XII. 

The  Last  Days  of  Cortez. 

FOR  a few  days  a fair  wind  bore  the  voy- 
agers rapidly  forward  over  a sunny  sea. 
They  had  arrived  nearly  within  sight  of  the 
Mexican  shore,  when  clouds  blackened  the  sky, 
and  a tropical  tempest  came  howling  fiercely 
upon  them.  The  light  brigantine  was  driven 
before  the  gale  like  a bubble,  and,  after  being 
tossed  for  several  days  upon  the  angry  deep, 
the  voyagers  found  themselves  near  the  island 
of  Cuba,  and  were  compelled  to  enter  the  har- 
bor of  Havana  for  repairs  and  supplies. 

It  was  not  until  the  16th  of  May  that  they 
were  enabled  again  to  set  sail.  After  a voyage 
of  eight  days,  Cortez  landed  near  St.  Juan  de 
Ulua.  Here  he  assumed  an  incognito,  and  pro- 
ceeded on  foot  fifteen  miles  to  Medellin.  His 
aspect  was  so  changed  by  sickness  and  dejec- 
tion that  no  one  recognized  him.  Here  he  made 
himself  known,  and  was  immediately  received 
with  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations  of 
joy.  He  now  pressed  forward  to  the  capital  in 


The  Last  Days  of  Cortez.  331 


Triumphal  march  to  the  capital.  Reception  at  Tezcuco. 

truly  a triumphal  march.  The  whole  country 
was  aroused,  and  processions,  triumphal  arches, 
bonfires,  and  music,  with  the  ringing  of  bells 
and  the  roaring  of  cannon,  greeted  him  all  the 
way.  The  natives  vied  with  the  Spaniards  in 
the  cordiality  of  their  welcome  and  in  the  splem 
dor  of  their  pageants. 

Arrangements  were  made  to  receive  him  at 
the  capital  with  a triumphant  fete.  He  arrived 
at  Tezcuco,  on  the  borders  of  the  lake,  in  the 
evening,  and  there  passed  the  night.  It  was 
now  the  lovely  month  of  June.  The  sun  the 
next  morning  rose  cloudless,  and  smiled  upon 
a scene  of  marvelous  beauty,  embellished  by  all 
the  attractions  of  hills,  and  valleys,  and  placid 
waters.  The  lake  was  alive  with  the  decorated 
boats  of  the  natives,  and  the  air  was  filled  with 
the  hum  of  peace  and  joy.  Smiles  again  flitted 
over  the  wan  and  pallid  cheeks  of  Cortez  as  the 
shouts  of  the  multitude,  blending  with  the  clari- 
on peals  of  the  trumpet,  the  chime  of  bells,  and 
the  thunders  of  artillery  fell  upon  his  ear.  He 
immediately  repaired  to  the  church  publicly  to 
return  thanks  to  God  for  all  his  mercies.  He 
then  retired  to  his  magnificent  palace,  and  again 
assumed  the  responsibilities  of  government. 

The  enemies  of  Cortez  were  still  indefatiga- 


332 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Enemies  at  work.  Serious  charges.  The  commissioners. 

ble  in  the  court  of  Charles  V.,  and  they  so  mul- 
tiplied and  reiterated  their  charges  that  the  em- 
peror deemed  it  expedient  to  order  an  investi- 
gation. He  was  charged  with  withholding  gold 
which  belonged  to  the  crown,  of  secreting  the 
treasures  of  Guatemozin,  of  defrauding  the  rev- 
enues by  false  reports,  and  of  surrounding  him- 
self with  grandeur  and  power  that  he  might  as- 
sert independence  of  Spain,  and  establish  him- 
self in  unlimited  sovereignty. 

A commissioner,  Luis  Ponce  de  Leon,  was 
accordingly  sent  by  the  emperor  to  assume  the 
government  of  Mexico  temporarily,  and  to  bring 
Cortez  to  trial.  But  a few  weeks  had  passed 
after  Cortez  returned  to  the  capital  before  this 
messenger  arrived.  Cortez,  surprised  by  his 
sudden  appearance,  was  greatly  perplexed  as  to 
the  course  he  should  pursue.  The  intelligence 
was  communicated  to  him  as  he  was  perform- 
ing his  devotions  in  the  church  of  St.  Francis. 
“ He  earnestly,”  says  Diaz,  “ prayed  to  the 
Lord  to  guide  him  as  seemed  best  to  his  holy 
wisdom,  and,  on  coming  out  of  the  church,  sent 
an  express  to  bring  him  information  of  all  par- 
ticulars.” 

After  much  painful  deliberation,  Cortez  de- 
cided to  receive  the  royal  commissioner  with  ap- 


The  Last  Days  of  Cortez.  333 


Offers  of  courtesy.  The  banquet.  Unfortunate  effects. 

parent  courtesy  and  submission.  He  sent  to 
him  a friendly  message,  wishing  to  know  which 
of  two  roads  he  intended  to  take  on  his  approach 
to  the  capital,  that  he  might  be  met  and  greet- 
ed with  suitable  honors.  The  friends  of  Leon 
cautioned  him  to  be  on  his  guard,  for  they  as- 
sured him  that  Cortez  would,  if  possible,  secure 
his  assassination.  Leon  warily  sent  word  that, 
fatigued  by  his  voyage,  he  should  not  immedi- 
ately visit  the  capital,  but  should  rest  for  a 
time.  Having  dispatched  this  message,  he  im- 
mediately mounted  his  horse,  and,  with  his  ret- 
inue, commenced  his  journey.  The  vigilant  offi- 
cers of  Cortez,  however,  met  him  at  Iztapalapan. 
A sumptuous  banquet  was  prepared,  and  some 
delicious  cheese-cakes  were  placed  upon  the  ta- 
ble. All  who  ate  of  the  cheese-cakes  were  taken 
sick,  and  it  was  reported  far  and  wide  that  Cor- 
tez had  attempted  to  poison  Leon  with  arsenic. 
There  is  no  proof  that  Cortez  was  guilty.  The 
circumstances  alone,  as  we  have  stated  them, 
awakened  suspicion.  These  suspicions  were 
fearfully  increased  by  unfortunate  events,  to 
which  we  shall  soon  allude. 

Leon  arrived  in  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  in 
the  presence  of  all  the  civil  and  military  offi- 
cers produced  his  authority  from  the  emperor, 


334 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Notice  for  complainants.  Leon's  sudden  death.  Its  cause. 

Charles  V.,  to  assume  the  governorship  of  the 
colony,  and  to  bring  Cortez  to  trial.  The 
humbled  and  wretched  conqueror  kissed  the 
document  in  token  of  submission. 

Leon  now  issued  public  notice  that  all  who 
had  complaints  to  bring  against  the  adminis- 
tration of  Cortez  should  produce  them.  A host 
of  enemies — for  all  men  in  power  must  have 
enemies — immediately  arose.  The  court  was 
hooded  with  accusations  without  number.  Just 
as  Leon  was  opening  the  court  to  give  a hearing 
to  these  charges,  he  was  seized  with  a sudden 
and  a mysterious  sickness.  After  lying  in  a 
state  of  lethargy  for  four  days,  he  died.  In  a 
lucid  moment,  he  appointed  an  officer  named 
Aguilar,  who  had  accompanied  him  from  Cas- 
tile, as  his  successor.  “ What  malignities  and 
slanders,”  exclaims  Diaz,  “ were  now  circu- 
lated against  Cortez  by  his  enemies  in  Mexi- 
co!” The  faithful  historian,  however,  affirms 
that  Leon  died  of  what  is  now  called  the  ship 
fever.  Notwithstanding  all  these  unfortunate 
appearances,  it  is  generally  believed  that  Cortez 
was  not  abetting  in  his  death. 

Aguilar  was  a weak  and  infirm  old  man,  so 
infirm  that  “he  was  obliged  to  drink  goat’s 
milk,  and  to  be  suckled  by  a Castilian  woman 


The  Last  Days  of  Cortez.  335 


Aguilar’s  administration.  He  determines  to  return  to  Spaia 

to  keep  him  alive.”  This  decrepit  septuagena- 
rian could  accomplish  nothing,  and  after  a va- 
cillating and  utterly  powerless  administration  of 
eight  months,  during  which  time  the  influence 
of  Cortez  was  continually  increasing,  he  died. 
The  treasurer,  Estrada,  by  the  governor’s  tes- 
tament, was  appointed  his  successor.  The  af- 
fairs of  the  colony  were  now  in  a state  of  great 
confusion.  These  new  governors  were  imbecile 
men,  totally  incapable  of  command.  The  pop- 
ular voice,  in  this  emergence,  loudly  called  upon 
Cortez  to  assume  the  helm.  Estrada,  alarmed 
by  this,  issued  a decree  ordering  the  instant  ex- 
pulsion of  Cortez  from  the  city  of  Mexico.  Cor- 
tez, thus  persecuted,  resolved  to  return  to  Spain, 
and  to  plead  for  justice  in  the  court  of  his  sov- 
ereign. At  the  same  time,  he  received  letters 
informing  him  of  the  death  of  his  father,  and  of 
the  renewed  activity  of  his  enemies  at  court. 

Purchasing  two  ships,  he  stored  them  with  a 
great  abundance  of  provisions,  and  by  a procla- 
mation offered  a free  passage  to  any  Spaniard 
who  could  obtain  permission  from  the  governor 
to  return  to  Spain.  After  a voyage  of  forty 
days  he  landed  on  the  shores  of  his  country,  at 
the  little  port  of  Palos,  in  the  month  of  Decem- 
ber, 1527.  Cortez  immediately  sent  an  express 


336 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Reception  of  the  emperor.  Marquis  of  the  Valley.  Captain  General. 

to  his  majesty,  informing  him  of  his  arrival. 
In  much  state  he  traveled  through  Seville  and 
Guadaloupe  to  Madrid,  winning  golden  opinions 
all  the  way  by  his  courtly  manners  and  his 
profuse  liberality. 

Upon  his  arrival  at  Madrid,  he  was  received 
by  the  emperor  with  great  courtesy.  Cortez 
threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  his  majesty,  enu- 
merated the  services  he  had  performed,  and  vin- 
dicated himself  from  the  aspersions  of  his  ene- 
mies. The  monarch  seemed  satisfied,  ordered 
him  to  rise,  and  immediately  conferred  upon 
him  the  title  of  Marquis  of  the  Valley,  with  a 
rich  estate  to  support  the  dignity.  Cortez  fell 
sick,  and  the  emperor  honored  him  with  a visit 
in  person.  Many  other  marks  of  the  royal  fa- 
vor Cortez  received,  which  so  encouraged  him 
that  he  began  to  assume  haughty  airs,  and  ap- 
plied to  the  emperor  that  he  might  be  appoint- 
ed governor  of  New  Spain.  The  emperor  was 
displeased,  declined  giving  him  the  appoint- 
ment, and  a coldness  ensued.  Cortez,  however, 
at  length  regained  some  favor,  and  obtained  the 
title  of  Captain  General  of  New  Spain,  with 
permission  to  fit  out  two  ships  on  voyages  of 
discovery  to  the  south  seas.  He  was  also  en- 
titled to  receive,  as  proprietor,  one  twelfth  of  the 


The  Last  Days  of  Cortez.  337 


Cortez’s  marriage.  Envy  of  the  queen.  He  embarks  for  New  Spain. 

lands  he  should  discover,  and  to  rule  over  the 
countries  he  might  colonize. 

Cortez  was  now  a man  of  wealth  and  renown. 
His  manners  were  highly  imposing,  his  conver- 
sation was  rich  and  impressive,  and  his  favor 
at  court  gave  him  a vast  influence.  His  in- 
come amounted  to  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  thousand  dollars  a year.  There  was 
no  family  in  Spain  which  would  not  have  felt 
honored  by  his  alliance,  and  when  he  sought 
the  hand  of  the  young,  beautiful,  and  accom- 
plished niece  of  the  Duke  of  Bejar,  his  address- 
es were  eagerly  accepted.  The  storm-worn 
yet  still  handsome  cavalier  led  to  the  altar  his 
blushing  bride  so  glittering  with  brilliant  jew- 
els, cut  by  the  exquisite  workmanship  of  the 
Aztecs,  as  to  excite  the  envy  even  of  the  queen 
of  Charles  Y. 

Cortez  soon  became  weary  of  a life  of  idle- 
ness and  luxury,  and  longed  again  for  the  stir- 
ring adventures  of  the  New  World.  Early  in 
the  spring  of  1530,  he  again  embarked,  with  his 
wife  and  mother,  for  New  Spain.  With  his 
characteristic  zeal  for  the  conversion  of  the  na- 
tives, he  took  with  him  twelve  reverend  fathers 
of  the  Church.  After  a short  tarry  at  Hispani- 
ola, he  landed  at  Yera  Cruz  on  the  15th  of 
Y 


338 


Heknando  Coetez. 


Effects  of  displeasing  a queen.  Cortez's  abode.  The  contrast. 

July.  As  it  was  feared  that  Cortez  might  in- 
terfere with  the  government  of  the  country,  the 
Queen  of  Spain,  who  was  quite  displeased  that 
the  wife  of  Cortez  wore  more  brilliant  jewels 
than  she  possessed,  had  issued  an  edict  prohib- 
iting Cortez  from  approaching  within  thirty 
miles  of  the  Mexican  capital.  He  accordingly 
established  himself  at  one  of  his  country 
estates,  on  the  eastern  shores  of  the  lake.  His 
renown  gave  him  vast  influence.  From  all 
parts  of  the  country  crowds  flocked  to  greet 
him.  With  regal  pomp  he  received  his  multi- 
tudinous guests,  and  his  princely  residence  ex- 
hibited all  the  splendors  of  a court.  Most  of 
the  distinguished  men  of  the  city  of  Mexico 
crossed  the  lake  to  Tezcuco  to  pay  homage  to 
the  conqueror  of  Mexico.  The  governor  was 
so  annoyed  by  the  mortifying  contrast  present- 
ed by  his  own  deserted  court,  that  he  despotic- 
ally imposed  a fine  upon  such  of  the  natives  of 
the  city  as  should  be  found  in  Tezcuco,  and, 
affecting  to  apprehend  a treasonable  attack  from 
Cortez,  made  ostentatious  preparations  for  the 
defense  of  the  capital. 

For  a long  time  there  was  an  incessant  and 
petty  conflict  going  on  between  Cortez  and  the 
jealous  government  of  the  colony.  At  last. 


The  Last  Days  of  Cortez.  339 


He  goes  to  Cuarnavaca.  Devotes  himself  to  industrial  interests. 

Cortez  became  so  annoyed  by  indignities  which 
his  haughty  spirit  keenly  felt,  that  he  withdrew 
still  farther  from  the  capital,  to  the  city  of  Cu- 
arnavaca, which  was  situated  upon  the  south- 
ern slope  of  the  Cordilleras.  This  was  the 
most  beautiful  and  opulent  portion  of  that  wide 
domain  which  the  energy  of  Cortez  had  annex- 
ed to  the  Spanish  crown.  Here  the  conqueror 
had  erected  for  himself  a magnificent  palace  in 
the  midst  of  his  vast  estates.  The  ruins  of  the 
princely  mansion  still  remain  upon  an  eminence 
which  commands  a wide  extent  of  landscape  of 
surpassing  loveliness.  Cortez  devoted  himself 
with  characteristic  energy  to  promoting  the  ag- 
ricultural and  industrial  interests  of  the  coun- 
try. Thousands  of  hands  were  guided  to  the 
culture  of  hemp  and  flax.  Sugar-mills  were 
reared,  and  gold  and  silver  mines  were  worked 
with  great  success.  Cortez  thus  became  great- 
ly enriched,  but  his  adventurous  spirit  soon 
grew  weary  of  these  peaceful  labors. 

In  the  year  1532,  Cortez,  at  a large  expense, 
fitted  out  an  expedition,  consisting  of  two  ships, 
to  explore  the  Pacific  Ocean  in  search  of  new 
lands.  The  ships  sailed  from  the  port  of  Aca- 
pulco, but,  to  the  bitter  disappointment  of  Cor- 
tez, the  enterprise  was  entirely  unsuccessful. 


340 


Hernando  Cortez. 


The  expeditions  and  failures.  Cortez  heads  another  party. 

The  crew  mutinied,  and  took  possession  of  one 
of  the  ships,  and  the  other  probably  foundered 
at  sea,  for  it  was  never  again  heard  from. 

But  the  Marquis  of  the  Valley,  with  his  in- 
domitable spirit  of  energy  and  perseverance, 
fitted  out  another  expedition  of  two  ships. 
This  adventure  was  as  disastrous  as  the  other. 
The  two  captains  quarreled,  and  took  occasion 
of  a storm  to  separate,  and  did  not  again  join 
company.  The  southern  extremity  of  the  great 
peninsula  of  California  was,  however,  discover- 
ed by  one  of  the  ships.  Here,  at  a point  which 
they  called  Santa  Cruz,  a large  part  of  the 
ship’s  company  were  massacred  by  the  savages. 
The  storm-battered  ships  eventually  returned, 
having  accomplished  nothing. 

Cortez,  still  undismayed,  prepared  for  anoth- 
er attempt.  He  now,  however,  resolved  to  take 
command  of  the  ships  himself.  His  celebrity 
induced  adventurers  from  all  quarters  to  seek 
to  join  the  expedition.  Three  ships  were  launch- 
ed upon  the  bay  of  Tehuantepec.  Many  men 
crowded  on  board,  with  their  families,  to  colonize 
the  new  lands  which  should  be  discovered. 
More  than  twice  as  many  adventurers  as  the 
ships  could  carry  thronged  the  port,  eager  to 
embark  in  the  enterprise.  In  the  month  of 


The  Last  Days  of  Cortez.  341 


Arrival  at  Santa  Cruz.  The  fleet  returns.  Disasters. 

May,  1537,  the  squadron  set  sail  upon  the  calm 
surface  of  the  Pacific,  the  decks  being  crowded 
with  four  hundred  Spaniards  and  three  hundred 
slaves.  About  an  equal  number  were  left  be- 
hind, to  be  sent  for  as  soon  as  the  first  party 
should  be  landed  at  the  port  of  their  destination. 

Sailing  in  a northwesterly  direction,  favorable 
•winds  drove  them  rapidly  across  the  vast  Gulf 
of  California  until  they  arrived  at  Santa  Cruz, 
on  the  southern  extremity  of  that  majestic  pen- 
insula. A landing  was  immediately  effected, 
and  the  ships  were  sent  back  to  Mexico  to  bring 
the  remaining  colonists.  Cortez  did  not  take 
his  wife  with  him,  but  she  was  left  in  their 
princely  mansion  on  the  southern  slope  of  the 
Cordilleras.  But  disasters  seemed  to  accumu- 
late whenever  Cortez  was  not  personally  pres- 
ent. The  ships  were  delayed  by  head  winds 
and  by  storms.  The  colonists  at  Santa  Cruz, 
in  consequence  of  this  delay,  nearly  perished  of 
famine.  Twenty-three  died  of  privation  and 
hunger.  At  length,  in  the  midst  of  general 
murmurings  and  despair,  one  of  the  ships  re- 
turned. It  brought,  however,  but  little  relief, 
as  the  ships  which  were  loaded  with  provisions 
for  the  supply  of  the  colonists  were  still  missing. 

The  discontent  in  the  starving  colony  be- 


342 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Discontent.  Search  for  the  vessels.  The  colonists  eat  too  voraciously. 

came  so  loud,  that  Cortez  himself  took  fifty  sol- 
diers and  embarked  in  search  of  the  missing 
ships.  With  great  care  he  cruised  along  the 
Mexican  shore,  and  at  last  found  one  stranded 
on  the  coast  of  Jalisco,  and  the  other  partially 
wrecked  upon  some  rocks.  He,  however,  got 
them  both  off,  repaired  them,  and  brought  them, 
laden  with  provisions,  to  the  half-famished  col- 
ony at  Yera  Cruz. 

The  imprudent  colonists  ate  so  voraciously 
that  a fatal  disease  broke  out  among  them,  which 
raged  with  the  utmost  virulence.  Many  died. 
Cortez  became  weary  of  these  scenes  of  woe. 
The  expedition,  in  a pecuniary  point  of  view, 
had  been  a total  failure,  and  it  had  secured  for 
the  conqueror  no  additional  renown.  The 
Marchioness  of  the  Valley,  the  wife  of  Cortez, 
became  so  anxious  at  the  long  absence  of  her 
husband,  that  she  fitted  out  two  ships  to  go  in 
search  of  him.  Ulloa,  who  commanded  these 
ships,  was  so  fortunate  as  to  trace  Cortez  to  his 
colony.  Cortez  not  unwillingly  yielded  to  the 
solicitations  of  his  wife  and  returned  to  Mexico. 
He  was  soon  followed  by  the  rest  of  the  wretch- 
ed colonists,  and  thus  disastrously  terminated 
this  expedition. 

In  these  various  enterprises,  Cortez  had  ex- 


The  Last  Days  of  Cortez.  343 


Cortez  resolves  to  replenish  his  resources.  Departure  for  Spain. 

pended  from  his  private  property  over  three 
hundred  thousand  crowns,  and  had  received 
nothing  in  return.  As  he  considered  himself 
the  servant  of  his  sovereign,  and  regarded  these 
efforts  as  undertaken  to  promote  the  glory  and 
the  opulence  of  Spain,  he  resolved  to  return  to 
Castile,  to  replenish,  if  possible,  his  exhausted 
resources  from  the  treasury  of  the  crown.  He 
had  also  sundry  disputes  with  the  authorities 
in  Mexico  which  he  wished  to  refer  to  the  ar- 
bitration of  the  emperor.  He  was  a disappoint- 
ed and  a melancholy  man.  His  career  had  been 
one  of  violence  and  of  blood,  and  “ his  ill  for- 
tune,” says  Diaz,  “is  ascribed  to  the  curses 
with  which  he  was  loaded.” 

Taking  with  him  his  eldest  son  and  heir,  Don 
Martin,  the  child  of  Donna  Marina,  then  but 
eight  years  of  age,  and  leaving  behind  him  the 
rest  of  his  family,  he  embarked  in  1540  again 
to  return  to  his  native  land.  The  emperor  -was 
absent,  but  Cortez  was  received  by  the  court  and 
by  the  nation  with  the  highest  testimonials  of 
respect.  Courtesy  was  lavished  upon  him,  but 
he  could  obtain  nothing  more.  For  a year  the 
unhappy  old  man  plead  his  cause,  while  daily 
the  victim  of  hope  deferred.  He  might  truly 
have  said  with  Cardinal  W olsey, 


344 


Hernando  Cortez. 


Neglect  and  disappointment.  Letter  to  the  emperor. 

“ Had  I but  served  my  God  with  half  the  zeal 
I served  my  king,  he  would  not  in  mine  age 
Have  left  me  naked  to  mine  enemies.” 

Cortez  soon  found  himself  neglected  and  avoid- 
ed. His  importunities  became  irksome.  Two 
or  three  years  of  disappointment  and  gloom 
passed  heavily  away,  when,  in  1544,  Cortez  ad- 
dressed a last  and  a touching  letter  to  the  em- 
peror. 

“ I had  hoped,”  writes  the  world-weary  old 
man,  “ that  the  toils  of  my  youth  would  have 
secured  me  repose  in  my  old  age.  For  forty 
years  I have  lived  with  but  little  sleep,  with  bad 
food,  and  with  weapons  of  war  continually  at 
my  side.  I have  endured  all  peril,  and  spent 
my  substance  in  exploring  distant  and  un- 
known regions,  that  I might  spread  abroad  the 
name  of  my  sovereign,  and  extend  his  sway 
over  powerful  nations.  This  I have  done  with- 
out aid  from  home,  and  in  the  face  of  those  who 
thirsted  for  my  blood.  I am  now  aged,  infirm, 
and  overwhelmed  with  debt.”  He  concluded 
this  affecting  epistle  by  beseeching  the  emperor 
to  “ order  the  Council  of  the  Indies,  with  the 
other  tribunals  which  had  cognizance  of  his 
suits,  to  come  to  a decision,  since  I am  too  old 
to  wander  about  like  a vagrant,  but  ought  rath- 


The  Last  Days  of  Cortez.  345 


Unavailing  appeal.  The  will.  His  bequests. 

er,  during  the  brief  remainder  of  my  life,  to  re- 
main at  home  and  settle  my  account  with  heav- 
en, occupied  with  the  concerns  of  my  soul  rath- 
er than  with  my  substance.” 

His  appeal  was  unavailing.  For  three  more 
weary  years  he  lingered  about  the  court,  hop- 
ing, in  the  midst  of  disappointments  and  inter- 
mittent despair,  to  attain  his  ends.  But  at  last 
all  hope  expired,  and  the  poor  old  man,  with 
shattered  health  and  a crushed  spirit,  prepared 
to  return  to  Mexico  in  gloom  and  obscurity  to 
die.  He  had  proceeded  as  far  as  Seville,  when, 
overcome  by  debility  and  dejection,  he  could  go 
no  farther.  It  was  soon  apparent  to  all  that 
his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  The  dying  man, 
with  mind  still  vigorous,  immediately  executed 
his  will.  This  long  document  is  quite  charac- 
teristic of  its  author.  He  left  nine  children, 
five  of  whom  were  born  out  of  wedlock.  He 
remembered  them  all  affectionately  in  his  pa- 
ternal bequests. 

He  founded  a theological  seminary  at  Coju- 
liacan,  in  one  of  the  provinces  of  Mexico,  for 
the  education  of  missionaries  to  preach  the  Gos- 
pel among  the  natives.  A convent  of  nuns  he 
also  established  in  the  same  place,  in  the  chapel 
of  which  he  wished  his  remains  to  be  deposited. 


346 


Hernando  Cortez. 


An  uneasy  conscience.  Removal  to  Castilleja.  Cortez's  death. 

He  also  founded  a hospital  in  the  city  of  Mex- 
ico, to  be  dedicated  to  Our  Lady  of  the  Concep- 
tion. 

In  these  solemn  hours  of  approaching  death, 
his  conscience  does  not  appear  to  have  disturb- 
ed him  at  all  in  reference  to  his  wars  of  inva- 
sion and  conquest,  and  the  enormous  slaughter 
which  they  had  caused,  but  he  was  troubled  in 
view  of  the  slavery  to  which  they  had  doomed 
the  poor  Mexicans.  With  dying  hand  he  in- 
scribes the  following  remarkable  lines : 

“It  has  long  been  a question  whether  one 
can  conscientiously  hold  property  in  Indian 
slaves.  Since  this  point  has  not  yet  been  de- 
termined, I enjoin  it  on  my  son  Martin  and  his 
heirs  that  they  spare  no  pains  to  come  to  an 
exact  knowledge  of  the  truth,  as  a matter  which 
concerns  the  conscience  of  each  one  of  them  no 
less  than  mine.” 

As  the  noise  of  the  city  disturbed  the  dying 
man,  he  was  removed  to  the  neighboring  village 
of  Castilleja.  His  son,  then  but  fifteen  years 
of  age,  "watched  over  his  venerated  father,  and 
nursed  him  with  filial  affection.  On  the  second 
day  of  December,  fifteen  hundred  and  forty- 
seven,  Cortez  died,  in  the  sixty-third  year  of 
his  age.  He  was  buried  with  great  pomp  in 


The  Last  Days  of  Cortez.  347 


His  funeral.  The  removal  of  his  remains.  Solemnities. 

the  tomb  of  the  Duke  of  Medina  Sidonia  at 
Seville.  A vast  concourse  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  whole  surrounding  country  attended  his 
funeral.  Five  years  after  his  death,  in  1562, 
his  son  Martin  removed  his  remains  to  Mexico, 
and  deposited  them,  not  at  Cojuhacan,  as  Cor- 
tez had  requested,  but  in  a family  vault  in  the 
monastery  at  Tezcuco.  Here  the  remains  of 
Cortez  reposed  for  sixty-seven  years.  In  1629 
the  Mexican  authorities  decided  to  transfer  them 
to  Mexico,  to  be  deposited  beneath  the  church 
of  St.  Francis.  The  occasion  was  celebrated 
with  all  the  accompaniments  of  religious  and 
military  pomp.  The  bells  tolled  the  funeral 
knell,  and  from  muffled  drums  and  martial  bands 
sublime  requiems  floated  forth  over  the  still  wa- 
ters of  the  lake,  as  the  mortal  remains  of  Cor- 
tez were  borne  over  the  long  causeway,  where 
lie  had  displayed  such  superhuman  energy  dur- 
ing the  horrors  of  the  dismal  night. 

Here  the  ashes  of  Cortez  reposed  undisturb- 
ed for  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  years,  when 
the  mouldering  relics  were  again  removed  in 
1794,  and  were  more  conspicuously  enshrined 
in  the  Hospital  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Conception, 
which  Cortez  had  founded  and  endowed.  A 
crystal  coffin,  secured  with  bars  of  iron,  in- 


Hernando  Cortez. 


348 

The  monument  erected  over  his  remains. 

closed  the  relics,  over  which  a costly  and  beau* 
tiful  monument  was  reared. 


THE  END. 


GETTY  CENTER  LIBRARY 


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